For JBER firefighter, it all comes down to training

by Airman Valerie Monroy
JBER Public Affairs

10/14/2015 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Before jumping out of a firetruck, he has no preconceptions. He doesn't think of what the situation requires of him.

As soon as he steps into the chaos, everything clicks. Everything around him comes into focus.

He understands that every small piece of knowledge that others have shared with him now comes into play.

His mind takes over and his body simply follows. Everything comes down to training.

Airman 1st Class Jammie Garcia is a 673d Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter who relies on his training.

Garcia's day starts off with checking all the equipment on the trucks. He makes sure everything is in perfect working order before moving on to other tasks.

"Once a week we'll test everything," Garcia explained.

Classroom training follows tests. The classes are usually medical refreshers or reviews of vital firefighting information, Garcia said.

Garcia said he needs to meet monthly training requirements.

Putting out fires under varying circumstances, and search and rescue area few examples of Garcia's firefighting training.
"You know, you have those days where you're out training and it's snowing, and it sucks, but you take a step back and realize it's pretty cool stuff," Garcia said.

Apart from the firefighter's day-to-day activities, fire emergencies happen at any time.

"Usually we'll start getting calls around nine in the morning," Garcia said. "We'll manage our work around how many calls we get."

Though 673d CES firefighters have primarily been occupied with medical emergencies, winter means they will respond to more car accidents.

In order for Garcia to stay ready for his job, he must stay physically prepared for any emergency.

"Staying fit is absolutely necessary," Garcia said.

Along with keeping his body in shape, mental preparedness is also expected. Studying vital information needed to perform his job and knowing the standard operating procedures is important, Garcia said.

"It's a lot of reviewing things we learned in technical school, there are many exact numbers we need to know for certain things we do," Garcia said. "One of the hardest parts is remembering everything."

Garcia said technical school involved learning basic medical-response skills like checking vitals, taking blood pressure and stopping bleeding.

Eventually, firefighters learn on-the-job skills including how to best use their tools and equipment, how to fight multiple types of fires and fire rescue, Garcia said.

While training and preparation help get the job done, it's doesn't make thing easy. That's why every firefighter has to give their best at all times.

"The feeling of helping others motivates me to perform my job to the fullest potential," said Airman 1st Class Joseph Pyun, 673d CES firefighter. "There is no greater feeling than being thanked for doing your job."

"There is not much you can do to prepare yourself for everything you can possibly see on any emergency," Garcia said.

No matter how hard a day proves to be for 673d CES firefighters, they know they all have each other at the end of the day.

"I love how everyone in the department can come together as a family," Garcia said. "You don't get that in all jobs."

"The family aspect changes my mindset from having a job in the Air Force to having a career in the Air Force," Pyun elaborated.

"I am always looking forward to going into work because not only are they my coworkers, but they're my family and friends as well."

Garcia said he didn't know firefighting was a possibility in the Air force but as soon as he saw it, he knew it was the job for him.

Even now, a year into the job, Garcia said he still has the same feelings toward his profession.

"My favorite part after any kind of emergency is when they say thank you," Garcia said. "You're just doing your job, but it's a great feeling."

Beale responds to wildfire with local community firefighters

by Airman Preston Cherry
9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs

8/10/2015 - CLEARLAKE, California  -- Beale personnel from the 9th Civil Engineer Squadron assisted CAL Fire and other fire prevention organizations with fighting a wildfire near Clearlake in California, Aug. 6.

The Rocky fire started July 29, and is the largest of 19 active wildfires burning across the state, consuming nearly 70,000 acres, destroying 43 residences and involving more than 3,500 fire personnel.

Beale personnel are a part of a 17 person strike force. The team is under a unified command structure comprised of five fire trucks from a variety of fire departments; all working under a strike team leader. Beale is in direct assistance with the Yuba-Sutter area, which includes fire departments from Linda, Wheatland, Pleasant Grove and Olivehurst.

"A strike team is a big factor in the California mutual aid system," said Kyle Heggstrom, Linda Fire Protection District fire captain and strike team leader. "Without having five engines running we wouldn't be able to go, and luckily Beale was our fifth engine to join in. Without that engine this strike team wouldn't have been able to combat this fire."

Beale, along with the rest of the strike force, has been battling multiple California fires for nearly two weeks.

"Helping the surrounding community has been great, not only because of the feeling you get, but the learning experience has been one of a kind," said Steven Dobbs, 9th CES fire captain.

Will Hock, 9th CES fire captain said, Beale leadership has put a lot of trust into the fire department here since this is the first time they have worked as a strike team for the county. Although this type of strike team is new for Beale, the experienced gained is unmatched and cannot be recreated on base. It's essential for the training of Beale firefighters.

"This is my first time being out with a strike team," said Airman 1st Class Austin Kauffman, 9th CES firefighter. "This is a unique experience to participate in a fire of this magnitude. It's something we don't get to see too often at Beale. It's been a learning experience to see how the fire reacts in the heavy tinder and brush, along with how the weather affects it."

The real-world incident involved Beale personnel fighting the flames directly, but equally important, included the prevention of fire expansion such as "mop-ups."

"Mop-ups are one of the most critical aspects of firefighting," Heggstrom said. "This is a time when we have to slow down our operation, get all of the hot spots on the edge of the fire and prevent it from expanding and causing larger fires."

With the fire nearing complete containment, Beale firefighter and the other strike force members will be returning to their home stations soon.

"The strike team has become one big family," Heggstrom said. "We're fortunate to have assistance from Beale and it's a tremendous training opportunity for them.

"During 2015, California has endured a significant amount of wildfires; they are ranging from the Northern area of the state to the South. I feel all crews have benefitted by participating in the mutual aid system. It's valuable for the state of California having Beale involved in the strike team."

Face of Defense: Reservist Balances Military, Civilian Jobs

By Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Boyer

U.S. Army Reserve Command

FORT McCOY, Wis., July 19, 2012 – Balancing duties as a soldier in the Army Reserve with a civilian career can be tricky, but for some soldiers, having two careers that enhance one another is a plus.

Army Spc. Dustin Chavez, 28, an operating room technician representing the 807th Medical Deployment Support Command at the 2012 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition here, works as a woodland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service when he's not in military uniform.

Chavez, who hails from Pollock Pines, Calif., said his military and civilian jobs both require the ability to be ready to move up and lead at the next level.

“On the civilian side, they [emphasize] leadership a lot, because we have opportunities to put very few people out to staff small fires,” Chavez said. “You have to lead up and make sure the person below you knows how to do your job, and you know how to do the job one level up from you. You have to be ready to move up. That's what I like about the Army, because it's the same way.”

As he applies leadership lessons and moves through the ranks in his military and civilian jobs, Chavez said, he wants other reservists to see they can incorporate both sides of their work lives.

“A lot of times, it can be easy to separate them,” he said. “I want people to see that I am doing both and trying hard to make it work.”

Chavez said his supervisors at the Forest Service are supportive of his Army Reserve career and made sure he had time to prepare for the warrior competitions here.

“I've had to take a lot of time off of work, but they've worked with me,” he said. “They've been very supportive -- especially with the ruck march. That's pretty much what we do: walk into fires after being dropped off. It's one of my favorite events because it directly relates to what I do as a civilian.”

Chavez grew in a military family with five sisters. Both his mother and father retired from the Air Force, and three of his sisters are active-duty airmen. He joined the Army Reserve three years ago after the Air Force turned him down for deafness in his left ear.

“I'm the ‘black sheep’ who went into the Army in my family,” Chavez said. “I was disqualified from the Air Force when I tried to join after high school. The Army gave me the opportunity.”

In addition to participating in three levels of competition before coming to Wisconsin, Chavez recently completed the Warrior Leader Course. He said he wants to take some of the excitement of this week of competition back to the other soldiers in his unit, the 352nd Combat Support Hospital.

“When a lot of soldiers come in and just do battle assemblies, it can get repetitive,” he said. “To see this side of the Army and go above and beyond has augmented my excitement about the Army. I want to take that home and show soldiers below me that there is more to the Army.”

Face of Defense: Airman Saves Police Officer’s Life

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Siuta B. Ika
49th Fighter Wing

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., Feb. 29, 2012 – Air Force Staff Sgt. Lionel Garcia, a 49th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter here, saved the life of a San Antonio police officer Feb. 19 while on leave visiting his family.

"We left my son's birthday party and were headed back on the highway to my parent's house, and I happened to witness a police officer get hit by a passing motorist," Garcia said. "The officer landed face-down on the shoulder of the highway, so I immediately pulled to the side of the road and ran over to the officer to render aid."

As he approached the officer, he added, he could see the officer needed immediate medical attention.

"I could hear him gurgling, trying to breathe, but the position he was in was causing his airway to be blocked," Garcia said. Immediately taking charge of the scene, he directed a police officer to keep the victim’s neck immobilized while he and another certified emergency medical technician rolled him over and removed his shirt, utility belt, bulletproof vest and undershirt to perform an initial assessment.

Besides having difficulty breathing, Garcia said, the officer had numerous cuts on his face, wounds on his elbows and knees, an injury to his pelvis and a fractured femur.

Garcia and the other EMT treated the victim for shock by elevating his legs and monitored him until emergency crews arrived. "During that period,” he said, “his breathing and pulse both improved, but he never regained consciousness or made any movement on his own."

The officer is expected to make a full recovery.

"I have followed the story online, and the officer underwent a 10-hour surgery the next evening," Garcia said. "The news reports all said that he will make a full recovery, and that's the most important thing right now."

Garcia credits his actions to the Air Force fire protection training he has received.

"As a firefighter, you're always trained to perform a scene size-up in your mind before you get on scene," he said. "I didn't really have that many thoughts when I saw it happen. I basically just reacted to the situation, and adrenaline took over. I'm trained to do this.” The chance to help and save people is why he became a firefighter, Garcia added.

His squadron commander, Air Force Col. Donald Ohlemacher, praised Garcia for his actions.

"Once again, our Air Force firefighters' heroic actions saved a life," Ohlemacher said. "Sergeant Garcia was in the right place at the right time to take swift action and render first aid to the fallen police officer. He's one of our many great American airmen who apply instinct and training in times of need. I'm very proud of Sergeant Garcia and his superb actions."

Spray-on Protective Coating Wins "R&D 100" Award

By Katherine H. Crawford, Office of Naval Research Corporate Strategic Communications Office

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- R&D Magazine honored an Office of Naval Research (ONR) scientist with a 2011 "R&D 100" award Oct. 13 for the development of a revolutionary coating material that is blast-and fire-resistant.

The special high-tech surface technology, HybridSil Fire/Blast, acts like a force field that surrounds and protects any type of surface, making it blast-, ballistic- and fire-resistant.

"You can take an existing material and change it completely to make it more useful for the warfighter," said award recipient Dr. Roshdy George S. Barsoum, ONR's manager, Explosion-Resistant Coating, Ships and Engineering Systems Division. "Receiving this award is recognition that we are developing something that the warfighter can really use and exploit."

The coating is sprayed onto surfaces just like paint, with minimal surface preparation. It is applied in variable thicknesses: less for fireproofing and more for blast-resistance. But the tricky part is that the law of diminishing returns is at work; at some point, the more you apply, the less effective it becomes. Determining the appropriate amount for each surface and user need is complex, Barsoum said.

The Navy is particularly interested in the material's fire-resistant properties, since fires, along with floods, present the greatest threats on a ship or submarine. The Army and Air Force have also been investigating its use to protect buildings against vehicle-borne explosive devices.

The coating was developed with industry partner NanoSonic Inc, and the cost per gallon is equivalent to premium house paint. It can be used on new and old materials alike, making it easy to apply to existing ships or vehicles.

The research into this coating began after the bombing of USS Cole (DDG 67) Oct. 12, 2000. The Navy wanted to find new ways of protecting ships, including coatings and polymers that could shield against explosions and fire. The research took off after 9/11, and the new defensive coating was applied to the rebuilt sections of the Pentagon.

According to R&D Magazine's website, the R&D 100 awards identify and celebrate the top high-technology products of the year, spanning industry, academia and government-sponsored research. Winning products include sophisticated testing equipment, innovative new materials, chemistry breakthroughs, biomedical products, consumer items and high-energy physics.

ONR provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.

C-130s Aid Wildfire Suppression Efforts

Often times the military and firefighters work together.  Check out these firefighter books and find out about the country's finest working side by side to keep you safe.

U.S. Northern Command

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., Sept. 14, 2011 – Six Department of Defense C-130 Hercules aircraft under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command continue to aid efforts to control wildfires in Texas, Oregon and Idaho at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, officials reported.

The aircraft are equipped with U.S. Forest Service modular airborne firefighting systems.

As of early today, DOD aircraft have completed the following missions in these states:

-- Texas: Fifteen drops delivering approximately 44,350 gallons of fire retardant;

-- Oregon: Two drops delivering about 2,700 gallons of fire retardant; and

-- Idaho: Two drops delivering approximately 2,760 gallons of fire retardant.

Units supporting the Texas operations are the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and the 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard. Both units are deployed to Austin/Bergstrom International Airport, Texas.

The support to the northwestern United States is being provided by the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, flying out of Boise International Airport, Idaho.

At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Northcom designated Randolph Air Force Base Auxiliary Field, Seguin, Texas, as a support base to assist in relief efforts.

Missouri National Guard responds to deadly tornado

Missouri National Guard report

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (5/23/11) - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon immediately mobilized the Missouri National Guard after tornadoes ripped through Joplin on Sunday evening.

"As soon as we heard the news of the tornadoes, the Missouri National Guard began mobilization activities," said Army Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general.

"Your Missouri National Guard is bringing experienced Citizen-Soldiers and leaders to provide the best support we have to our neighbors in Joplin."

Expected support missions include: search and rescue, emergency route clearance, communications support and security.

Missouri's Soldiers and Airmen will continue working in support of local authorities until released by the governor.

IKE Sailors Prepare for Ship's Return to the Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Albert Jones, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)(IKE) Sailors are preparing for the ship's return to the Fleet by attending damage control courses, such as the Advanced Shipboard Fire Fighting Course at the Farrier Fire Fighting School Center for Naval Engineering in Norfolk, May 10.

The four-day course is designed to prepare firefighter Sailors to combat casualties they may encounter aboard a ship. It covers a wide range of topics, from proper battle dress to rescue and assistance team procedures, and even how to set up a P-100 pump for firefighting if the ship were to lose fire main pressure.

"Be open-minded, because you're going to learn something," said Damage Controlman 2nd Class Anthony Trujillo, an instructor at the school.

The first day of the course takes place in a classroom, while the remaining three days are spent between the classroom and a live fire trainer. On the trainer, students get hands-on experience with setting up a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), hose handling, setting up a ram fan for smoke control, plotting in a repair locker, working as the on-scene or team leader and setting up a P-100 for firefighting. The students also watch demonstrations on how to set up and use some equipment, such as the Portable Exothermic Cutting Unit (PECU).

Trujillo said while the controlled fires in the trainer aren't as hot as an out of control shipboard fire, the students still get that sense of urgency, because they are dealing with high heat and a charged hose.

Hull Technician 1st Class Michael Kubicki, who recently attended the course, agreed with Trujillo, adding that the trainer creates that feeling because it is not like a general quarters or inport emergency team drill. He said during these drills there is not a charged hose, and there is not any extra heat because it's a person waiving a flag, whereas the heat and smoke at the trainer makes it feel more like an actual emergency.

The Farrier Fire Fighting School also has a one-day firefighting course, as well as other courses designed to augment training.

2011 Vigilant Guard exercise kicks off in Jefferson County

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

The Wisconsin National Guard's 54th Civil Support Team (CST), in coordination with several state and local agencies, participated in the first of several planned events of the 2011 Vigilant Guard large-scale exercise.

The exercise began in Jefferson County at approximately 8 a.m. Saturday (May 14) with a scenario where Boy Scouts, hiking on the Glacial Drumlin Trail, reported a chemical leak from a fertilizer tanker. Local emergency responders responded to the request under the exercise scenario and determined they would need extra support. By 9:30 a.m. the 54th CST advance party arrived on scene, with the main body arriving shortly thereafter.

The 54th CST's mission is to support local and state authorities at domestic emergency incident sites by identifying agents and substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response measures, and assisting with requests for additional military support. Civilian authorities are always the first to respond to an incident - the National Guard is the nation's first military responder, supporting the governor and state emergency management agency.

"The CST provided safety of the scene, data modeling, communications and liaison between the incident commander and public health authorities," said Lt. Col. Timothy Covington, 54th CST commander. "This was a great opportunity to introduce our capabilities to local agencies and to show how those resources might be used in the event of a large scale disaster."

First Assistant Fire Chief Timothy Dorn of Jefferson County Fire Department, the incident commander for this event, agreed with Covington.

"This was a tremendous opportunity to learn about the resources, equipment and training that the CST can provide," Dorn said. "The CST was the difference between a prolonged [situation] and a fast and efficient resolution of this exercise."

Along with Jefferson County Fire Department and the CST, other local agencies participating in the event included the Lake Mills Fire Department, Johnson Creek Fire Department, Jefferson County Health Department and the Jefferson County Sherriff's Department.

"A large majority of the fire departments and emergency services personnel on scene today are volunteers," Dorn said. "This exercise provided a great opportunity to learn about collaborating across multiple volunteer organizations. I'd like to speak with Jefferson County about when we could schedule our next exercise."

The Vigilant Guard exercise continues for the remainder of the week with scenarios ranging from tornados and earthquakes to chemical spills and cyber attacks. Nearly 3,000 participants - representing up to 48 federal, state, county, volunteer and private agencies - will respond to complex mock emergencies in several communities across the state during the exercise.

Air Guard, Reserve Complete Texas Firefighting Mission

U.S. Northern Command

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., May 6, 2011 – Four Defense Department C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with U.S. Forest Service firefighting systems that were under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command have completed their support to the firefighting efforts in Texas.

The C-130s, two from the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing here, and two from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Air Wing, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif., will redeploy from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, after assisting the National Interagency Fire Center control the fires.

The mission in Texas ended last night. The aircraft flew 81 sorties and delivered 243,000 gallons of fire-retardant.

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Combating the Texas Wildfires

We recently held a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Jack H. "Jay" Pittman, commander of 302nd Air Wing, on Wednesday, April 27. For the past two weeks, at the request of the USDA Forest Service, and under the direction of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander, members of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with numerous active duty counterparts and other federal agencies have responded to the wildfires that have been plaguing Texas and the southwest border region.

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) has been deployed to aid firefighters in this effort. MAFFS is a self-contained platform aboard Air Force C-130s, and to date, the C-130s have discharged nearly 200,000 gallons of retardant to help contain the massive fires. Subject Matter Experts from MAFFS as well as the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, also participated during the Bloggers Roundtable to discuss the firefighting efforts and answer questions about their respective roles and capabilities.

Air Force Casualty

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: Derek Kozorosky

Rank: Airman First Class

Age: Pending

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: Pending

Date of Incident: 02/11/2011

Time of Incident: 1800hrs

Date of Death: 02/11/2011

Fire Department: 18th Civil Engineer Squadron

Address: Kadena Air Base, APO AP 96368

Fire Department Chief: Brig. Gen. Ken Wilsbach

Incident Description: Airman First Class Kozorosky passed away at the Camp Lester Naval Hospital following a vehicle mishap. Details for the fatal incident are pending a full investigation by authorities.

Incident Location: Kadena Air Base, Japan.

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Airman First Class Kozorosky at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 18 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2011; 16 from incidents that occurred in 2011 and two from a previous year’s incident.  Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm

Makin Island Sailors, Marines Train with San Francisco Fire Department

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kellie Abedzadeh and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Christopher Piotrowski, USS Makin Island Public Affairs

SAN FRANCISCO (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard USS Makin Island (LHD 8) conducted search and rescue (SAR) training with the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) Oct. 8, as part of San Francisco Fleet Week's (SFFW) focus on disaster preparedness.

The training, held at the fire department's rescue systems facility on Treasure Island, focused on urban SAR techniques used in the aftermath of a major earthquake.

Mark Kearney, SFFD assistant deputy chief, Division of Homeland Security, said the training was intended to give Sailors and Marines an idea of how military and civilian first responders can assist each other during disaster operations.

"We are in a very big earthquake zone, and we know the military can assist us in our time of need," Kearney said.

Sailors and Marines received hands-on training in vertical shoring systems, cribbing techniques used to elevate debris, and technology and equipment used for rescue operations.

They also had the opportunity to crawl and climb through the facility's 1.5 million-pound "rubble pile," which simulates a collapsed structure filled with debris, concrete and crushed vehicles.

Damage Controlman 3rd Class Vernon Snodgrass said he found the training useful because some of the knowledge and equipment used for urban SAR operations are also utilized on board Navy ships.

"The reason I became a damage controlman is because I want to become a firefighter, and all the equipment they (SFFD) use, I use every day," he said.

Aviation Ordnanceman Alex Gallegos also said the training was relevant for the Sailors and Marines.

"Everything that we've seen here today; a lot of it is pretty similar to what we have on board the ship for damage control," Gallegos said.

SFFD Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, spoke with the Sailors and Marines, thanking them for their service to the country. As she discussed the significance of the training events, Hayes-White emphasized the importance of developing a strong relationship between the fire department and military beyond fleet week.

"We'd like to continue the partnership and strengthen the partnership we have with the military," she said. "Certainly, there is plenty of opportunity for us to learn from you."

San Francisco Fleet Week (SFFW) is an annual event that gives members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard an opportunity to share their operational capabilities with the local community. SFFW 2010 showcases more than 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen along with their equipment, advanced technology and capabilities. The five-day event is also intended to highlight the contributions and history the military's sea services have within the San Francisco Bay Area.

Operated by a crew of more than 1,000 Sailors, Makin Island is a multi-mission platform that is equipped to meet the needs of the country, from supporting national objectives to providing much needed relief to a disaster area. Makin Island's revolutionary technology is estimated to save the Navy $250 million throughout its 40-year lifecycle and is a model for future ship designs.

For further information about San Francisco Fleet Week, visit the official website www.fleetweek.us.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Joint Program Aims to Reduce Firefighter Injuries

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 25, 2009 - Firefighting may be near the top of the Defense Department's list of high-risk occupations, but there's a move afoot to make it safer. Defense Department firefighter injury reports -- more than 1,000 new incidents each year -- have cost the department nearly $30 million a year.

When the Defense Safety Oversight Council realized more than a year ago that Firefighter injury-related lost time rates were higher than any other civilian occupation within the department, it sought help in turning the situation around.

Enter the Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Service Working Group.

"[The Defense Safety Oversight ] wanted us to look into what was causing the injuries to see if we could come up with suggestions on reducing the injury rates and the lost work days," said Carl Glover, the director of the Navy Fire and Emergency Service for Navy Installations Command. "[The working group] thought that the awareness training would be an opportunity to ... spread the work on the problem and create some awareness and potentially reduce the [accident rates]."

Glover served as chairman of the working group. He no longer holds that position, but continues to be engaged in the project.

The Firefighter Injury Prevention Training project started with a 26-month analysis of firefighter injuries within the Navy, he said. Of all the injuries reported, 41 percent were classified as "falls, slip, trip, or bodily exertion." Of those cases, 40 percent, or 75 incidents, were directly related to the firefighter entering or exiting the fire apparatus and lifting patients.

Comparing Navy incidents with those of other department components showed similar types of injures. "We operate under the same instruction and same methodology," Glover explained.

The resulting effort to lower the rate of injury is an eight-lesson, Web-based training program. The multimedia program uses text, audio, video, photographs and graphics to demonstrate proper techniques for the actions determined to lead to falls, slips, trips, and exertion injuries.

Video for the course which was shot at Bolling Air Force Base in the nation's capital, and features participants from Defense Logistics Agency, the Air Force, Army and Marines. The Navy has been using it for about a year, Glover said. Funded by the Defense Safety Oversight , the course also has been provided to the other services.

Though it's being used and is creating awareness of the issues in question, it's too soon to tell if it's actually been effective in lowering incident rates, Glover said.

"We've had some internal Navy feedback that it's well-received," he said. "We just don't know if it's achieving its desired result yet. I don't have any statistical numbers to [prove] that our number of injuries have reduced."

The plan is to evaluate the program's success once it's yielded enough data to study.

"If it's successful, maybe we approach DSOC for a Part Two, but tackle a different specific type of injury," Glover said. "Or, if it's not successful, then we'll go back to DSOC and say, 'Is there some other option we can look [at] ... to see if there's some other program we could implement to reduce the injuries.'"

The Navy intends to make the course mandatory for all new firefighters and an annual requirement for all firefighters.

And though it was created for Defense Department civilian, military and contracted firefighters, the program could easily be of value to any firefighter, Glover said.

WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion

On August 20, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature an interview of Lisa Spahr the author of WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion.

Program Date: August 20, 2009
Program Time: 1700 hours, Pacific
Topic: WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/08/21/WWII-Radio-Heroes-Letters-of-Compassion

About the Guest
Lisa Spahr, a former volunteer firefighter, “is an investigative psychologist who owns a life coaching and consulting business in Pittsburgh PA. Ms. Spahr has an extensive history in the field of research for universities and private organizations, focusing on law and psychiatry research, military applications, and policing operations and tactics. Examples of her work include: examining the construct of psychopathy in prisoner and juvenile populations, and creating guidelines for suicide bomb response for police officers in the United States.

Lisa Spahr said of WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion, “More than 60 years had gone by before I found them. Dozens and dozens of letters written to my family during WWII- from total strangers- to tell my great-grandmother that her son had been captured and was being held as a POW. How did they know this? Well, it seems that the short-wave radio had held all of the answers. POWs were allowed to state their names and hometowns on the radio, and sometimes relay a short message to their families. Scores of Americans, listening to the German propaganda from so far away, heard my grandfather's information, and took it upon themselves to write to my great-grandmother. All of these dear people wanted to give my great-grandmother a measure of comfort to know her son was alive.”

About American Heroes Radio
American Heroes Radio broadcasts from the Watering Hole; for a location heroes go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/08/21/WWII-Radio-Heroes-Letters-of-Compassion

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

New Army Guard Division Focuses on Soldiers' Well-Being

By Army Spc. John Higgins
Special to American Forces Press Service

Sept. 17, 2008 - Soldiers and their families are the focus of a new division at the Army National Guard Readiness Center here. In May, the center's Soldier/Family Support Service Division began providing services that include suicide prevention, family support and transition back from active duty.

"There has never been a time in history when we have made so many resources available to care for all aspects of well-being," said Erin Thede, chief of the Soldier/Family Support Service Division. "We are dedicated to pursuing policy and resources that improve our care and services so that no soldier or family is left behind."

Army Lt. Col. Ashleah Betchel, chief of the Soldier Support Branch at the Army National Guard Readiness Center, added that soldiers' care is everyone's responsibility.

"This is a commander's issue, a leader's issue, a soldier's issue, a family issue, and a community issue," she said. "There is ownership across the board for everybody to make sure that we're taking care of the soldiers in the right way. That's one of the reasons our division was formed -- to get the word out there."

Getting that word out is the responsibility of officers and noncommissioned officers starting at the division level, including Army Master Sgt. Marshall Bradshaw, the Army National Guard Readiness Center's Suicide Prevention Program manager, because soldiers who need help won't always seek it.

"If we were to hire a professional counselor at the state level, ... you still couldn't get all the soldiers in to see that counselor," Bradshaw said. Another challenge for Bradshaw, the units, and the Guard is how to disseminate information and take care of troops who generally check in with their units only two days a month.

The solution for both problems comes from the communities Guard soldiers live and work in, Bradshaw said. Nonprofit groups such as the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, religious organizations and even police and firefighter chaplains are prepared to assist the Guard.

Bradshaw devotes much of his time to giving enthusiastic groups outside the Guard and the servicemembers' immediate families the tools they need to help.

"The organizations I've found want to help us," he said. They just don't know how."

Help from the communities helps Guard members at home, but a different method must be used during deployments, and a unit behavioral advocate adds to the military's capacity to be mindful of soldiers' mental health.

"This is a cultural shift from the highest levels," said Maj. Quentin Collins, a special operations soldier who is now a chaplain at the readiness center. "From the chief of staff all the way down to the regular soldier, we must understand that we are not just machines. 'Soldier first' is not just a concept, it's a reality."

The unit behavioral advocate not only keeps an eye on mental health issues, but also assists with squad- and platoon-level training, which is performed in small groups on a regular basis rather than once or twice in a large group with one instructor for a whole company.

"The only way you can really encourage that kind of care is with that team concept. The idea is that you are a family, and families do hurt," Collins said. "It's the battle buddy concept taken a step forward."

Those changes cover soldiers during pre- and post-deployment in most cases. However, some soldiers may require even more care should they be injured during a mission. For them, the Guard has created a warrior transition unit with the sole focus of helping soldiers transition back to a unit, a civilian job or both.

Before the WTU, soldiers were assigned to a medical hold company, which fell under the medical treatment facility, wherever it was. The WTU changes this by placing recovering soldiers under the command and control section and allows them to receive more specific care with assistance from a case worker who monitors their progress more closely and a doctor who sees that they receive more individual care.

"Together, it all lines up, and the soldiers are actually finding that they're not at the medical facility as long," said Army Staff Sgt. Sylvia Bastion, NCO in charge of the warrior transition section, which assists the WTUs. "It's more directed at their injuries or illness."

That emphasis is not merely on healing, but also on transition, with physical therapy augmented by occupational therapy or counseling sessions with professionals.

"Whether they're an active Army soldier ... going back to [their unit], or a Guard soldier who has a job back in their hometown, the WTU can help," said Maj. Andrew Bishop, chief of the Warrior Transition Program. "It really focuses not just on the day-to-day accountability of where they are and what they're doing, but also on the transition services -- getting them to what's next in their lives."

(Army Spc. John Higgins serves at the National Guard Bureau.)

California Fire Task Force Mission Becomes 'Wait and See'

By Air Force Capt. Al Bosco
Special to American Forces Press Service

July 30, 2008 - With the latest California wildfires mostly under control, Army and Air National Guard aircrews supporting the firefighting effort can finally begin to breathe, as many aircraft are pulled from active support to a stand-by role. Since the California fires began June 21, Army and Air National Guard aircrews have flown continuously, supporting the massive firefighting operation.

At the height of the operation, more than two dozen aircraft from as many as 14 states, as far away as New York, were assigned to Joint Task Force Sentinel.

Aircrews endured the stifling heat and smoke, flying continuous fire-suppression missions and dropping nearly 4 million gallons of water on the flames that have scorched more than 900,000 acres, or an area roughly equivalent to the size of Rhode Island. In fact, just a week ago, the flight line at this former Air Force base near California's capital of Sacramento sat mostly empty, with the exception of aircraft requiring maintenance and a couple of spare aircraft ready to go if called upon.

Army Maj. David Hall, a JTF Sentinel operations officer, said operations from Mather are being scaled back based on direction from the state's Joint Forces Headquarters and as a result of inputs from the Office of Emergency Services, California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection -- known as Calfire -- and other civil agencies indicating forces on the ground, along with civil aircraft support, are sufficient to handle the current fire situation.

"This is a balancing act, and we work with multiple agencies to determine what type of support they need from us," Hall said. "Downsizing typically occurs when our partner agencies believe they can manage the fires still burning with the civilian air and ground assets they have available."

He added that although Guard aircrews aren't likely going to see the same level of tasking, they will maintain a presence, along with ensuring aircraft are immediately available to support state missions as required.

"We have six aircraft still supporting active missions, but we'll have about four additional aircraft available that will serve as alert aircraft able to launch if needed," Hall said.

Interestingly, most of the aircraft currently on mission aren't California assets. In fact, Hall said, many of the out-of-state aircrews are taking the lead role in the effort affording the California crews a much-needed break.

"The out-of-state units showed up, and were eager to help out with the mission, so we're sending them out," Hall said. "This is a great opportunity for us and them, since they are getting some hands-on experience fighting the fires, helping out California and also giving our aircrews a chance to breathe."

In fact, Army Staff Sgt. Jim Irby, an Alabama National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief, said he's anxious to get his unit's aircraft on the fires.

"We got here July 16 and completed our training, so now we're ready to get out there and help," Irby said. "We almost got to launch twice yesterday, but firefighters in the area were able to gain control of the situation quickly."

The unit got a mission July 18 -- to swap out with the Kansas National Guard aircrews supporting the Chico Complex fires, making pilot Army Chief Warrant Officer Randy Kirkland smile.

"This is what we came here for," he said as he and his crew prepared to head for their aircraft.

Calfire Wildland Battalion Chief Scott Watson said the Guard's quick response, coupled with excellent communication among the agencies, was a critical factor in the civil authorities' ability to gain control of the fire so quickly.

"It's been remarkable to take so many aircraft from different states, bring them to California and train and utilize them," Watson said. "This is a first -- an historic event -- and we've built a template showing that allegiances like this are critical. I think from this we can actually work toward a national standard for emergency response."

(Air Force Capt. Al Bosco serves with the California National Guard.)

Face of Defense: Paralegal Succeeds in Army

By Army Spc. Allison Churchill
Special to American Forces Press Service

July 9, 2008 - Army Spc. Matthew Duras decided to join the Army because he wanted to serve his country. Since becoming a soldier, he balances helping his fellow soldiers and reaching out to the community. Duras brought a diverse educational and working background to the table when he joined the Army.

After earning an associate's degree in paralegal studies from Harcum College, in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in 1994 and a bachelor's degree in the same field from Widener University, in Wilmington, Del., in 2001, Duras held a variety of jobs. He worked as a paralegal for DuPont and the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services, but he didn't initially consider the legal field for his Army career. Instead, after working at a truck assembly plant as a fire marshal -- a combination of being a security guard and a fire inspector -- and volunteering as a firefighter, Duras intended to use that experience and join as an Army firefighter.

"It seemed like the next step," said Duras, who's deployed with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Fires Brigade.

But his recruiter looked at his educational background and told him about a different option, recommending that Duras join the Army as a paralegal.

"I was fortunate to have a really good recruiter," the West Deptford, N.J., native said. "I've always been the type of person who likes to help someone out. The Army has helped me reach that goal."

Before the brigade deployed, Duras' normal day included preparing paperwork for nonjudicial judgments and separations from the Army and helping brigade lawyers during courts-martial. During his deployment here, he also writes power-of-attorney documents and processes damage claims from Iraqi citizens.

Duras' superiors said they're impressed with his work.

"He is a dedicated soldier with an incredible heart and an excellent paralegal," said Army Capt. Patrick Gilman, the 41st Fires Brigade's command judge advocate. Gilman administered the oath of enlistment when Duras re-enlisted in November.

When Duras isn't in the office helping soldiers, he's often representing them in public arenas. He said he was especially happy to take part in a Veterans Day ceremony before a race at Texas Motor Speedway.

"It was like Christmas morning," the NASCAR fan recalled about getting to walk up and down "Pit Road" before the race.

Duras also took time during his pre-deployment leave to reach out to his hometown. He was invited by a friend to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Lakewood (N.J.) Blue Claws professional baseball game May 5. He said seeing his Army combat uniform sparked patriotism in the fans.

"A bunch of people thanked me, and a [father] and his daughter shook my hand," Duras said.

Duras also made a video for the congregation of Gloucester County Community Church, which will be played over Veterans Day weekend.

When the 41st Fires Brigade completes its deployment, Duras is scheduled to relocate to Germany.

(Army Spc. Allison Churchill serves in the 41st Fires Brigade Public Affairs Office.)