Training with a purpose

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Andrew Porch | Sgt. Chad Guthrie, public affairs broadcast specialist, 28th Public Affairs Detachment, walks through an area of land slated to be cleared during the training of Soldiers assigned to Task Force First Round on the Kalispel Indian Reservation, Wash., Aug. 23, 2015. Guthrie is tasked with providing public affairs support to First Round as they are training to suppress wildfires burning across Northeastern Washington.  

USK, WA, UNITED STATES

08.23.2015

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Porch 

28th Public Affairs Detachment

KALISPEL INDIAN RESERVATION, Wash. – With the Tower Wildfire burning more than 10,000 acres of forest in Northeastern Washington over the last week, the Soldiers of Task Force First Round cannot get to the front lines quick enough, and to make this happen, they are completing training that is setting the stage for future operations.

After arriving late the previous night, the Soldiers, out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, hit training first thing during the morning of Aug. 23, as they set out to not only learn tactics that will help them suppress the wildfires, but also help protect land sacred to the tribe of the Kalispel Indian Reservation.

“We have got the troops engaged in a training exercise that’s also a benefit for the tribe,” said Jay Karle, military crew advisor for Soldiers of Task Force First Round. “These [Soldiers] are working hard at putting in an indirect fireline around a sacred burial site.”

Knowing that the training also had real world implications made it all the more important for the Soldiers.

“This is something that we want to do and it is important because we want to let the civilians know that we are there whenever they need us,” said Pfc. Terra Begay, a strike team member assigned to Task Force First Round. “We are here to protect our country anyway that we can.”

The advisors are implementing training that will keep the Soldiers continuing to hone their skills and see the Soldiers improving by the day.

“I think it’s great; they are a great resource,” said Kearn. “These [Soldiers] are driven, they are motivated, they are fit, they are organized, they are disciplined, so it is an easy transition for them to come over here and be firefighters.”

Besides receiving training and providing support to the community, the Soldiers know that being here will provide a much needed boost to the firefighters on the frontline.

“By doing this, it helps those that are already out there fighting fires,” said Begay, a native of Holbrook, Arizona. “They don’t have to come and [dig firelines]; we will already have it done for them so they don’t get over exhausted. They are already working long days and we just want to give them somewhat of a rest.”

With very little time before Soldiers get to the frontlines, the time available now has to be taken advantage of.

“Let’s have it be useful,” said Karle, a native of Woodland Park, Colorado. These fires have impacted the people in this area pretty severely. Protecting some of these resources, this is what it is all about, the things that are irreplaceable.”

• Date Taken: 08.23.2015
• Date Posted: 08.23.2015 21:26
• Story ID: 174008
• Location: USK, WA, US
• Hometown: COLORADO CITY, CO, US
• Hometown: DETROIT, MI, US
• Hometown: GRAND RAPIDS, MI, US
• Hometown: HOLBROOK, AZ, US
• Hometown: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US
• Hometown: WOODLAND PARK, CO, US