442nd Firefighters return from Eglin Air Force Base

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Wesley Wright
  • 442nd Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Twelve Firefighters from the 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron here returned from their two-week annual-tour training at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., July 7.

While in Florida, the firefighters honed their skill on tasks. They put out structural and aircraft training-fires, learned about the general behavior of fire and performed search-and-rescue training.

The search-and-rescue training was conducted in a three-story building, where firefighters utilized blacked-out masks to simulate the loss of vision in smoke-filled rooms - a challenge as they sought simulated casualties.

Getting hands-on training with firefighting equipment is a big part of annual-tour training, said Master Sgt. Charles Roush, 442nd CES assistant chief of operations, fire department. Getting familiarized with the equipment and the types of aircraft firefighters deal with while deployed enhances their ability to execute the mission and save lives.

"We normally don't get a lot of hands-on radio time," Roush said. "It's important, because you have to make sure you say the right things when you contact the tower or cross the runway."

Roush said it is little things that they need to be reminded of, because when they are on the job, they have to be able to work instinctively.

CES members got to put some of those things into action when they worked with Army Rangers and pararescue troops there.

"For the first time, we did night standbys," said Staff Sgt. Anthony Tungol, 442nd CES fire protection specialist. "We'd stand by early in the morning and monitor their jumps. That was a cool experience to see them in action."

Tungol said the training keeps him on top of his game.

"In a civilian job, we would be working for the city, dealing with buildings and roads," Tungol said. "On an Air Force base, with the dynamic of a runway, the flightline and airplanes, for me, it's a good way to keep my skills up."

Roush and members of the 442nd CES worked 24 hours on -- 24 hours off, while working at Eglin AFB.

"Even though a lot of us are civilian firefighters, there are some of us who are not," Roush said. "Training like this gives Airmen a chance to experience 24-on, 24-off shift work; you can't do that at Whiteman."

Senior Airman Craig Hill, 442nd CES fire protection specialist, said he expanded his horizons with the training he received at Eglin AFB.

"It was a unique, great experience seeing another Air Force base," he said. "Their flight-tempo is higher down there, so there were lots of opportunities to learn and work with the Army."

In addition to more than 40 hours of firefighting training, 442nd firefighters responded to real-world emergencies, including several medical emergencies and an aircraft fire.