Airman 1st Class Alberto Garcia-Vidal (right) lays out different tools for display during an auto-extraction exchange at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 29, 2012. The 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and Manas International Airport fire department demonstrated different tools they utilize in rescue scenarios. Garcia-Vidal is a 376 ECS fire fighter deployed out of Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. and a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Engelke discusses the different simulated rescue scenarios to expect as part of an auto-extraction exchange at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 29, 2012. The 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and Manas International Airport fire departments strengthened cooperation and partnership by participating in an exchange of simulated rescue scenarios at the Transit Center. Engelke is a 376 ECS firefighter deployed out of Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. and a native of Mason City, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Airman 1st Class Alberto Garcia-Vidal pulls out a simulated victim during a auto-extraction exchange at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 29, 2012. The exchange demonstrated different methods the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and Manas International Airport fire fighters use to extract victims from a simulated vehicular accident. Garcia-Vidal is a 376 ECS firefighter deployed out of Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. and a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
9/7/2012 - MANAS TRANSIT CENTER, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) -- Fairchild firefighters deployed with the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, conducted a capabilities demonstration with their Kyrgyz Republic counterparts Aug. 29.
The exercise was part of a continuing informational exchange program familiarizing Transit Center Airmen and their Kyrgyz Republic firefighting colleagues with one another's equipment, methods and training techniques.
The exercise involved a simulated car accident in which firefighters demonstrated procedures designed to extract a victim from an overturned vehicle.
"Events like this one are invaluable," said Chief Master Sgt. Steven Groszek, 376th ECES fire chief. "We can demonstrate each other's capabilities and build on our relationship. We work together at the airport and share the brotherhood of the fire department."
This sense of family is important and according to William Nowlin, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire emergency services chief, his Airmen may be deployed but they're still a part of his family here at Team Fairchild.
"This is their secondary family," Nowlin said. "Their job is to protect those who defend America and they exemplify those qualities by way of the Air Force core values: 'Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do.'
"Our best guys went to Manas," he added. "They're doing good things overseas just like they do while they're home at Fairchild. All of our guys have the desire to serve, ability to perform and courage to act."
Fairchild currently has more than 190 servicemembers deployed to Manas.
(Staff Sgt. Matt Benedetti from the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs contributed to this article)
