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Fire school dishes out world-class training

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Dorian Chapman
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AETCNS) --  Sixty-eight training days. 4 a.m. wake-ups and two-mile runs. "Large frame burns" searing at 1,200 degrees. Smoke. Heat. Noise.

The firefighter trainees at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Training Academy at Goodfellow AFB endure exhaustive training in an effort to be the best. Dozens of applicants per year cannot keep the pace, requiring them to pursue other career paths; however, the ones who succeed can rest assured they have received the best training in the world, training which has prepared them to charge in and risk their lives to save others.

The courage and training of Goodfellow-trained firefighters were evident during a house fire on Andersen AFB, Guam, Nov. 29. For one responder, this was his first opportunity to capitalize on technical school training in a real-world situation. Airman 1st Class Johnnie Gilford credits the preparation and training he received at Goodfellow as the reason for his confidence and decisiveness.

According to Airman Gilford, "we entered the house and there was thick black smoke and extreme heat. The only thing going through my head was what type of fire pattern I would use, and how I was going to extinguish the fire. I could not draw on previous experiences since this is my first base, so I had to rely solely on my technical school training."

The school curriculum is broken into six blocks. Block 1 is First Responder training which includes topics from CPR to childbirth. Block 2 incorporates Fire Protection Fundamentals which deals with fire behavior, protection and prevention. Block 3 is Structural Fire Fighting Principles and Block 4, Structural Fire Ground Operations, teaches students how to understand and fight fires in a building or similar structure. Block 5 which is Hazardous Materials training, covers awareness, planning and environmental regulations. Lastly, Block 6 teaches Airport Firefighting by emphasizing specialized training for flight line areas.

Members of the fire academy staff are proud of Airman Gilford's responsiveness, but not surprised.

"Graduates from this school are ready to go," said Marine Staff Sgt. Tracie Selvera, a Block 1 instructor at the academy. The curriculum is designed to weed out those who cannot perform the mission. It has to because lives depend on it.

Within the first two weeks, a typical class of 20 students begins to shrink. The physical demands alone start to thin the numbers.

Bunker drills, timed tests designed to evaluate the speed trainees can don their protective ensemble, are far more complicated than slipping on a rain suit -- and more exhausting. Bunker gear consists of an overcoat, trousers, gloves, boots, helmet, hood and a myriad of small, yet crucial, components. A firefighter should be able to get into this equipment in less than 60 seconds. Not only is speed an issue, but "you have to trust your gear, and not get scared" when the time comes, said Airman Gilford.

"When it comes to saving lives, every second counts," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Huffstatler, a Block 3 instructor at the school. "Through bunker drills, we develop a sense of urgency that becomes second nature. You shouldn't have to think about how to adjust your mask. You should just do it."

A sense of urgency is paramount in order for fire crews to perform in real-world situations.

"Response times are critical," said Block 1 and 2 instructor, Staff Sgt. Byron Beasley. "Brain damage occurs between four and six minutes and becomes irreversible after 10. When we receive a call, we have one minute to handle the call, one minute to 'bunker-up' and four minutes to get to the scene." In a flightline environment, crews have only minutes to reach the emergency.

Beyond bunker drills, students are physically challenged in almost everything they do. "Firefighter PT (physical training)" consists of climbing and descending ladders, dragging hoses and simulated victims, and numerous other activities that take a physical toll on trainees.

Every day, firefighters face environments that the human body is not designed to withstand. Dedication to physical fitness is imperative. A firefighter must be in top shape to endure those conditions. If not, exhaustion and dehydration could prove to be fatal.

Discipline is a must for those with serious ambitions to become a firefighter. Firefighters must run that extra mile, squeeze out that last sit-up, ascend that last flight of stairs, all to ensure top notch performance when and where it counts.

"One of the reasons we lose (students) early in the program is because they aren't in 'discipline mode' when they get here," Sergeant Huffstatler said.

"Firefighters work 24 on 24 off," said one Block 4 instructor, Staff Sgt. Tabio Soto. "It takes self discipline for firefighters to make the decision to be responsible."

But make no mistake, it takes more than nerves of steel and brute force to fight fires. Trainees experience 544 hours of classroom instruction. "The academics can be a big surprise," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Hare, a Block 6 instructor. "Some people just don't expect firefighter training to have this amount of class work."

By the end of the course, the Air Force has invested $28,000 in each student. At that point, hours and dollars culminate to produce a professional firefighter ready to join the fire crew at his next assignment.

With such a rigorous a training schedule, it is easy to conclude that those who (dish out this regiment) are the best of the best. Only accomplished, capable firefighters are selected to return to the school as instructors.

In some ways, teaching is tougher than fighting fires. These instructors know they must do what it takes to turn out genuine professionals. Not everyone takes the training seriously. Instructors must be able to identify those individuals merely going through the motions and not giving 100 percent.

The school not only trains Air Force firefighters, but firefighters across the Department of Defense. On any day, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and Coast Guardsmen are teamed up to combat searing heat and flames. The school also trains DOD civilians, firefighters from allied nations and even local volunteer firefighters.

Raging infernos have met their match when Airman Gilford and other Goodfellow-trained firefighters arrive. Cutting edge training and unrivaled teamwork combine to form an unstoppable firefighting force. The men and women of the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Training Academy take pride in knowing they produce the best possible fire crew members ready to take on the mission. Perhaps their motto says it best: "Instructing Those Who Defend America."