Firefighter Combat Challenge returns to Ramstein after 5-year hiatus

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --  For the first time in five years, firefighters and emergency responders from throughout U.S. Air Forces in Europe came together here Oct. 9 for the 2010 Firefighter Combat Challenge.

The return of the event, previously put on hold due to real-world demands, also marked the end of the Kaiserslautern Military Community's observance of National Fire Prevention Week, held each year Oct. 3 to 9.

Each year, firefighters from around the nation recognize National Fire Prevention Week, designed to educate people about the importance of smoke alarms and encourage everyone to take the steps necessary to update and maintain their home smoke alarm protection.

Dubbed the toughest two minutes in sports by ESPN, the firefighter challenge made possible by more than 50 volunteers, showed off some of the tools firefighters work with every day. Both teams and 30 individual participants were physically tested in events ranging from a victim rescue relay, where competitors drag a 175-pound mannequin 100 feet to a 45-pound hose hoist.

"I always thought the challenge looked like a lot of fun, just never had the opportunity to train and compete," said Airman 1st Class David Benning, an 886th CES firefighter, who competed for the first time this year, and won the individual competition. "No matter how hard you train though, I think it is always going to be difficult. You are moving as fast as you can and moving a lot of extra weight with you while wearing heavy clothing that doesn't breathe, in addition to a self-contained breathing apparatus. The FFCC is the only workout I have ever done that is so intense, that two minutes of work leaves you fatigued, dizzy and disoriented for 20 minutes afterward."

The benefits of training and competing in the FFCC extend beyond the bragging rights; they also work to improve USAFE's ability to respond to various emergencies by having fit firefighters on the trucks.

"I have been involved with the firefighter challenge in the past, but due to the strenuous workout schedule, and the time it takes to plan this type of event, I thought it would be best that I host it instead of competing," said Staff Sgt. Ronald Lee, a USAFE Fire Academy instructor and 2010 FFCC coordinator. "I wanted to organize this event in order for us to get all of the bases together again. Years ago, this was a huge morale booster, and a very competitive event. The firefighters do more than train for first place; while they are not competing, they are responding to emergencies and using their physical abilities to complete the mission."

The FFCC also serves as a vehicle to transport the message of fire prevention and safety to spectators.

"Being a firefighter, to me, means helping people," Sergeant Lee said. "It is easy to lose sight of that because we do not save people on a weekly basis, but in my 10 years in the military, I can honestly say that there are people alive today because of me, or firefighters like me, and when you reflect on that, it is hard to dislike your job."