Photo By Sgt. Maj. Andrew Porch | Soldiers assigned to the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field...... read more read more
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KALISPEL INDIAN RESERVATION, Wash. – Last Monday, the Soldiers of the “First Round” Battalion started their work week like any other, reporting to formation at 6:30 a.m, saluting the flag and conducting physical readiness training but the rest of their work week would not follow the normal routine as they were called up for a special mission.
Fast-forward to Saturday, Aug. 22, and the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, 7th Infantry Regiment, is now set up at Tower Base Camp located on the Kalispel Indian Reservation, Washington, and already conducting training in preparation to help suppress wildfires burning through the Colville National Forest.
“Last week we got notification, we got activated and started train-up immediately,” said Sgt. Luis Vasquez, quartermaster and chemical equipment repair, 657th Forward Support Company, 5-3 FA. “You’re used to short notification and not always knowing what your next move is, so you try to go with the flow. You take all the advice that you can, all the tips, all the info and combine it, out it to use and get ready to go.
The Soldiers aren’t by themselves, as they are getting ready for their mission they are being instructed by members of the Vegas Valley Hand Crew, a group of wildland firefighters based out of Las Vegas, and the training is already making a difference.
“There knowledge has increased greatly just over the past few days,” said Jonathan Pilkerton, lead saw, Vegas Valley Hand Crew. “For the amount of stuff that has been thrown at them, I think a lot of them are retaining it pretty well. A few of the guys I have talked to are getting the gist of things. They know basic tools and basic operations on the fire line.”
After a seven-hour bus ride from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Soldiers knew there was no time to relax and their mission was right in front of them.
“We downloaded, set up camp, made sure we were good to go and immediately went into training,” said Vasquez, a native of Odessa, Texas. “You don’t have much down time, but when you do have it you take advantage of it. All the other times you have, you stay prepared by training. You stay fresh and on top of everything and that way it is sharp in your mind when you have to use it.”
“We need the training because being military we never deal with equipment like this," said Spc. Eddie Rodriguez, supply specialist, 657th FSC. “It’s good that these guys came out to train us so we can do what we have to do.”
For the Soldiers, applying their military experience is key to learning the basics of fighting wildfires.
“Being in the military, they teach us camaraderie and teamwork, so I know a lot of these [instructors] are ex-military so it just transitions over,” said Rodriguez, a native of Miami. “They apply a lot of terms we use so it makes it easier for us to understand.”
Thinking of the bigger picture, the Soldiers know this isn’t like any other mission they have had before.
“We can help the firefighters and assist them in the things that they do on a daily basis and we can assist the civilians,” said Vasquez. “They could lose a lot if it wasn’t for the firefighters and us being here, so if we can help, we are glad to do it."
| Date Taken: | 08.22.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2015 03:00 |
| Story ID: | 173985 |
| Location: | CUSICK, WA, US |
| Hometown: | HOLLYWOOD, CA, US |
| Hometown: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Hometown: | LAUGHLIN, NV, US |
| Hometown: | MIAMI, FL, US |
| Hometown: | ODESSA, TX, US |
| Hometown: | SYKESVILLE, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 291 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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