Army Firefighters Train to Save Lives and Property in Europe

Strategic Insights -

Army firefighters with the 23rd Ordnance Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, conduct aircraft burn training with the 886th Civil Engineer Squadron on Ramstein Air Base in Ramstein, Germany. They are trained to respond to emergency situations and save lives, often running into burning buildings to rescue people and protect property. Their dedication and skill were on full display during a training exercise, which included trying on firefighter gear, using the "jaws of life," and extinguishing a mock aircraft fire.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 23rd Ordnance Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, is comprised of Army firefighters who attend 13 weeks of Advanced Individual Training to learn firefighting skills, first aid procedures, and rescue procedures.
  • The Soldiers rotate monthly from Grafenwoehr to Ramstein to execute detailed training exercises to improve their skills and responsiveness.
  • Army firefighters work with civilian firefighters to train and sharpen their skills in areas such as inspecting buildings and equipment for fire hazards and responding to emergency situations.
  • The Soldiers also go out to the communities and talk with people, especially children, about fire safety and teach them different techniques to get them out of a house fire.
  • Firefighting is a crucial aspect of Army service, and the Soldiers involved take pride in their work, with one Soldier saying, "Firefighting is my life. I wouldn't want to do anything else."

Statistics:

  • 13 weeks: The length of Advanced Individual Training that Army firefighters attend to learn firefighting skills, first aid procedures, and rescue procedures.
  • 40 years: The number of years that Deiter Bestyak, the Kaiserslautern Military Community fire department training officer, has been a firefighter.
  • 9/11: The event that motivated Cleveland Brasiendton, the 23rd Ord. Co. firefighter, to volunteer at the fire department in his hometown and later join the Army as a firefighter.
  • Ramstein Air Base in Ramstein, Germany: The location where the Army firefighters conducted aircraft burn training with the 886th Civil Engineer Squadron.
  • Maj. Gen. Patricia E. McQuistion: The commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command who observed the training and expressed her admiration for the firefighters and their leaders.

Sources:

  • US Army-Europe: The U.S. Army-Europe released the information about the training exercise.
  • Staff Sgt. Tramel S. Garrett, 21st TSC Public Affairs: Garrett wrote the article about the Army firefighters' training exercise.