Photo By Sgt. Melissa Martens | U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Josue Cervantes, left, the Soto Cano Air Base station chief...... read more read more
Subscribe
U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command and U.S. Air Force firefighters with 612th Air Base Squadron, Joint Task Force - Bravo, trained with the Retalhuleu Fire Department at Base Comando Aéro Del Sur in Retalhuleu, Guatemala, Aug. 6 and 13.
The Marines and Air Force firefighters shared different training techniques and conducted rescue drills with the Retalhuleu firefighters on the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, and ran through a challenge course to test their speed and agility.
“For this training, we worked with the Guatemalans on how to set up on the CH-53’s in the event of an inflight emergency,” said Airman 1st Class Brian B. Coffey, a firefighter with 612th ABS. “It was a great opportunity to build partnership, learn new techniques and show that we can trust each other to get the job done.”
The firefighters with 612th ABS are currently attached to the Marines operating in Retalhuleu to provide support if needed.
“We are supporting the Marines here, so if a CH-53 catches on fire, or if there is a need for a rescue mission, we can inject and do our job,” Coffey said.
The rescue mission training was a critical component to the exercise with the Retalhuleu firefighters because it utilized a simulated casualty. The scenario training was designed to build the confidence of all involved so that they will know how to respond in the event of a flight line emergency.
“As one of the simulated casualties, the Guatemalans and airmen came on the helicopter, assessed my injuries, evacuated me and brought me to the ambulance,” said U.S. Marine Cpl. Michael H. Fiala, a radio communications operator with the Command Element, SPMAGTF-SC. “It makes me feel comfortable knowing that these key personnel have this training so that if we were ever in a real life situation where a rescue was needed, they would know how to respond efficiently.”
As a thank you for conducting the training, the firefighters of the Retalhuleu Fire Department invited the Marines and the Air Force to take a tour of their station and have lunch together.
“We got to take a tour of their facility and they showed us their equipment and trucks,” said U.S. Marine Sgt. Patrick J. Kennedy, a data network specialist with the CE, SPMAGTF-SC. “These firefighters are highly involved in the community so it was great to open up a partnership between us.”
Another way the Marines and U.S. Air Force have interacted with the community members in Retalhuleu is by participating in a soccer game supported by the local police department. This event was a great opportunity to get to know members of the community and those serving it.
“With the help of the local police department, we organized a soccer game with a local middle school and played with the kids there,” said Kennedy. “It was nice that we got to mingle with the kids and talk to them about their daily lives.”
At the invitation of the Guatemalan Government, the Aviation Combat Element has been based in Retalhuleu to support other elements of SPMAGTF-SC as they work on engineering projects and conduct training with the Guatemalan Armed Forces.
The almost 300 active and reserve Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF-SC are operating primarily in Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and El Salvador during their deployment, but the task force is also deploying mobile training teams to five other countries in the region to conduct training with host nation forces there. Each location serves as another opportunity for Marines and sailors to build upon security cooperation efforts and strengthen relationships in the region.
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.30.2017 16:54 |
| Story ID: | 245482 |
| Location: | RETALHULEU, GT |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Forging bonds: U.S. Marines, airmen train alongside Guatemalan firefighters, by Sgt Melissa Martens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT