Firefighters saving lives, money

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) --  Kadena Air Base is now home to a rescue technician course designed to help Pacific-region firefighters save lives and at the same time save the Air Force dollars.

The three week course is offered by Detachment 1, 554th Red Horse Squadron, who teaches firefighters how to manage personnel and resources during rescue situations.

The rescue technician course originated at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, and in the past, Pacific-region firefighters traveled thousands of miles to attend. With the establishment of the course here, the Air Force will save about $15,000 in travel costs for every course while providing the highest level of training.

The instructors teach practical application of mountain, industrial, and confined space rescues, according to Staff Sgt. Matthew Morris, rescue chief with the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea and an instructor for the course. Students are taught high- and low-angle rescue techniques, water rescue procedures, rappelling techniques, and rope tying methods necessary to build mechanical advantage systems.

"What they learned academically, they applied it out in the field, with our guidance," Sergeant Morris said.

"The Rescue I course is a very demanding course, mentally and physically," said Yuji Nakayama, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter instructor. "It teaches how to manage all the emergency response personnel on the scene of a rescue situation."

"We learned how to work with people from different bases and built great team work," said Senior Airman Brett Williams, a firefighter with the 3rd Civil Engineer Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. "I've also learned a lot of new skills I did not know before."

"I'm hoping to take the skills I learned back to my own base," said Staff Sgt. Roderick Marquez, a firefighter with the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron at Andersen AFB, Guam.

"Hopefully we don't have to use it, but if we do I'm looking forward to bringing my skills into action," Sergeant Marquez said.

This is a great opportunity for all Department of Defense firefighters in PACAF, Mr. Nakayama said. "We teach the students what we do best, to protect and serve the community."

The course will be offered six to eight times a year.

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