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    US, Kyrgyz firefighters strengthen skills

    US, Kyrgyz firefighters strengthen skills

    Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Krystie Martinez | Fire department crews from the Kyrgyz Republic, Manas International Airport and 376th...... read more read more

    TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, KYRGYZSTAN

    06.26.2013

    Story by Staff Sgt. Krystie Martinez 

    376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

    TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan - Screaming tools slice into the smashed vehicle as American and Kyrgyz firefighters strain to extricate a simulated victim from its interior during a combined exercise here, June 24-27.

    The teamwork between them shows with each move that the exchange has been a success.

    Four Kyrgyz Republic, Manas International Airport, and two 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron crews participated in a vehicle extrication exercise, which simulated a vehicle crash with trapped victims. In order to rescue the victims, both crews used tools similar to the Jaws of Life™.

    “Today we're training with the Kyrgyzstan firefighters and building a better relationship with them,” said Staff Sgt. Ethan Kalepp, 376th ECES fire department, vehicle crew chief. “We are learning different ways to do things, and trying to make it quicker and safer.”

    An emergency can happen anywhere at any time and it’s important for the two departments to be able to work together, at a moment’s notice.

    “The significance of this training is to improve our skills and make sure we're both on the same page and can get the job done safely and efficiently,” said Senior Airman Jose Garcia, 376th ECES firefighter. “It’s all about building friendships and mutual agreements, basically working together, building our morale and working together as a team. Getting the job done.”

    Both departments understand the significance of training together and are ready to learn from each other.

    “Experience and exchange, those are the most important things,” said Alexei Reinvald, Kyrgyz fire department rescue operator, with the help of an interpreter. “We raised our qualification and our knowledge because just seeing with our own eyes how you guys do it and to show how we do it is always good.”

    At the end of the four-day exercise, firefighters felt confident that, when faced with a vehicle extrication emergency, they could execute their mission correctly.

    “Thanks to these kinds of exercises, we can say that we are sure that in case of emergencies we can do our job properly,” Reinvald said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.26.2013
    Date Posted: 08.20.2013 04:38
    Story ID: 112249
    Location: TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, KG

    Web Views: 39
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN