Photo By Staff Sgt. David Bernal Del Agua | The 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Emergency Services Flight receives the...... read more read more
Subscribe
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. – McConnell’s Fire and Emergency Services Flight earned its accreditation, Aug. 13, 2014, from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.
The unit is the only accredited fire department within Air Mobility Command and is one of 13 accredited units Air Force-wide.
“This [accreditation] validates our program,” said Senior Master Sgt. William Taylor, 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief. “It gives assurance to the base populace and the wing commander that when we respond to an emergency, you are getting the best possible service that can be provided.”
The fire team had more than 250 performance indicators tested, and the process was a group effort that took them almost three years from start to finish.
“It wasn’t just the management staff doing paperwork,” said William Dodson, 22nd CES assistant chief of training and accreditation manager. “It was everybody involved, from the newest person on up to the fire chief.”
Becoming accredited involved everyone believing in the process and voicing their opinion.
“Everybody has to buy into the program, from Airmen all the way to the oldest fire fighter we have on the floor,” said Charles Hutson, 22nd CES fire chief. “They all have some say into how the department is run.”
Accreditation is not the final step. The progression is continuing, and the fire team constantly seeks to better itself.
“We are living the continual improvement model,” said Taylor. “Every day, we look for ways to improve efficiency within the department to reduce operating costs, or transfer those operating costs that may be wasteful into areas where we can capitalize on improving technology within the department.”
An annual report must be sent every year after accreditation to ensure all requirements are being met. Re-accreditation occurs every five years.
“Every month, we’ll review one chapter to make sure we are continuing to do what we need to stay accredited,” said Hutson. “At the end of the five-year plan, we’ll be ready for re-accreditation because we’ve gone through the manual every year.”
All the time and hard work to become accredited has been for the purpose of better serving the community.
“It’s all about the community,” said Hutson. “They pay for all of our vehicles, all our man power and everything else. That is why we give back to the community.”
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2014 13:21 |
| Story ID: | 140528 |
| Location: | WICHITA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, McConnell Firefighters gain accreditation, by SSgt David Bernal Del Agua, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT