Iraqi, American Firefighters Combine Forces for Airfield Protection
Saturday, 01 November 2008
NEW AL MUTHANA AIR BASE — As senior government leaders hammer out a new Status of Forces Agreement that will set the path for future American and Iraqi military policies, a group of American and Iraqi firefighters have already developed a working relationship that protects people, structures and aircraft here at Baghdad International Airport.
U.S. Air National Guard firefighters from the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron are working with Iraqi Air Force firefighters from New al Muthana Air Base, learning how to collaborate to protect life and property in the event of any type of ground or in-flight emergency.
The most recent training paired the American and Iraqi firefighters in an exercise where they practiced the procedures for rescuing the flight crew from a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft in the event of a fire in the cargo hold.
Working firefighting activities at an airport offers a unique set of challenges and dangers as compared to a regular city fire department, said Chief Master Sgt. John Cinquemani, who is deployed from the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York where he serves as the full-time fire chief for the Guard base as well as Stewart International Airport.
With more than 37 years as a firefighter and 23 years as a fire chief, Cinquemani understands those challenges and dangers, and pushes both the American and Iraqi firefighters to learn how to work together.
To that end, the chief is planning weekly training and exercises that will encompass a vast range of crisis scenarios and push the firefighters to perform as a seamless team.
“If we have an emergency on the Iraqi Air Force side of the airfield or involving an Iraqi aircraft, then they will take the lead and we will back them up,” he said. “If it involves an American aircraft, they have our backs—and it takes constant training be ready.”
“When you are dealing with an aircraft fire, there are lots of other things to consider including the fact that you have to work very quickly—not only to save lives but because it’s a three-dimensional environment and there are always going to be other activities around the emergency area and multiple aircraft overhead that are waiting to land,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Ankenbauer, 447th ECES firefighter, who is deployed from the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif.
Their training also will allow them to be better prepared to assist civilian Iraqi firefighters on the Baghdad InternationalAirport side of the flightline in the event of a major civilian aircraft crash, fire or mass-casualty incident, Ankenbauer said.
Cinquemani’s plans for additional exercises and training include scenarios that will call upon American and Iraqi firefighters as well as medical personnel from the 447th Expeditionary Medical Squadron.
“The Iraqi Air Force firefighters are obviously very proud of their accomplishments, and every step we take with them in training is another step toward their capability to take over all of the military emergency services activities here,” Cinquemani said. “Each of their accomplishments also brings them one step closer to becoming a fully independent and operational Air Force.”
(By Master Sgt. Brian Davidson, 447th Air Expeditionary Group.)
Coalition Forces Continue Professional Development of Iraqi Police
WASHINGTON — The Iraqi Police have achieved operational proficiency, allowing Coalition trainers to shift their focus to professional development, an officer said Thursday.
“We’re continuing to develop big numbers of recruits, but at the same time we’re also starting to add to the professional training,” U.S. Army Col. Bryan Bequette, director of training support for the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, told bloggers during a teleconference.
| Children Return to Refurbished School, Receive Donated Backpacks |
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FOB FALCON — Excited children from the Risalah community of southern Baghdad recently returned from summer vacation to find their elementary school had changed for the better. And as the children entered their newly refurbished school, they were greeted by Lt. Col. Johnnie Johnson, the commander of 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, and Col. Adel, the commander of 1st Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, who presented a backpack to each student. |
| Friday, 31 October 2008 | More than 600 SoI arrive for IP training |
| Friday, 31 October 2008 | Coalition trains IP to patrol independently |
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