First responders train to support airport

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) --  Members of the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department here participated in Gunsan airport's G-20 summit on terrorism and civil aviation air incident training at the airport Sept. 17.

According to airport officials, the exercise tested the "cooperative and emergency response systems" of the airport, including the 8th CES fire department, on their counterterrorism operations, fire suppression and rescue, and evacuation and treatment of injured.

The annual training also included officials from the Gunsan Airport Security Measures Association, the South Korean air force's 38th Fighter Group, South Korean air force special forces, the Army's 1st Battalion 35th Infantry Division and the Gunsan fire department and hospital, airport officials said.

Because the airport shares the runway with the 8th Fighter Wing, the 8th CES fire department would provide aid to South Korea in the event of a crash or incident, said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Anderson, the 8th CES fire department assistant chief of training.

The training was beneficial because the fire department doesn't have many opportunities to train with the South Korean air force and civilians at the airport, Sergeant Anderson said.

"It's a great way for us all to get together and look at different ways we do business," he said. "They (airport officials) ... get to see how we would respond if they actually did have an emergency at the airport. It's nice to see how each side functions and how together we can work as a team."

Tech. Sgt. Matthew Reichle, an 8th CES firefighter, was the fire department's assistant chief of operations for the exercise.

"I've worked at civilian airports back in the U.S., but this was the first time I've been involved with an anti-terrorism exercise like that," he said. "It was interesting for me. I learned some new stuff just seeing how they set up and what they expect from us in the fire department.

"Any time we get to interact with the (South) Koreans or (members of the South Korean Air Force), I think it helps us, as the fire department, get even better," he continued. "(We see) the different equipment and different techniques they use that we can become more familiar with, and hopefully if we have something where we need their help or they need our help in the future, we'll be able to work better with them."

Kim Ki-Song is a South Korean civilian firefighter who works with the 8th CES fire department.

The exercises help them prepare for these types of situations and future inspections, he said.

"We need to protect my country from these types of threats," he said. "We are getting better as we practice over and over. These exercises also help us get ready for the (Operational Readiness Inspection)."

Mr. Kim said he enjoys working with the 8th CES Airmen.

"We have a language barrier and conversation is difficult, but anything else is not really much a problem," he said. "I like to play with the young guys and have fun with them and learn from them about U.S. culture."