Aircraft rescue firefighters conduct training on Ie Shima

Photo By Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock | Lance Cpl. Ethan R. E. Kingsbury trains using a K-12 rescue saw to cut through the side of a vehicle during Ryukyu Warrior 12 on Ie Shima Dec. 6. The rescue saw is a firefighting tool used to cut through the metal on a vehicle. Ryukyu Warrior is an annual training exercise involving units within 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Kingsbury is an aircraft rescue firefighter with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.  

IE SHIMA, OKINAWA, JAPAN

12.06.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

IE SHIMA, Japan - On Dec. 6, in the midst of Ryukyu Warrior 2012, a contracting vehicle bursts through the gate. The call comes in, and the Marines prepared for the worst. One victim lies incapacitated in the car as explosive ordinance disposal Marines inspect the area. After assessing the scene and determining it to be safe, aircraft rescue firefighters come in to do what they do best.

This was the situation as firefighters conducted a simulated training exercise for extricating a victim from a vehicle.

“Our primary mission is to save lives, and then we protect property,” said Staff Sgt. Brock H. Sinclair, the aviation operations company gunnery sergeant and an aircraft rescue firefighter with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “We are aircraft rescue, not aircraft recovery, and I think that is what separates us from the other branches of service.”

According to Sinclair, while aircraft rescue firefighters are trained to deal with aircraft emergencies, they are also trained to respond to a variety of different situations. This simulated scenario was to practice extricating a victim from a car.

“Safety is paramount in what we do,” said Pfc. Tyler T. Brawand, the primary fire apparatus operator with the squadron. “While we specialize in aircraft rescue, we train for any situation.”

The aircraft rescue firefighters got into full proximity gear and prepared vehicle extrication gear as they waited for EOD to inspect and clear the area.

“We get that sinking feeling in our guts when we have to wait,” said Sinclair. “At the same time, if there had been an improvised explosive device in there, what good would we have been?”

Some of the extricating tools used by the firefighters include a K-12 rescue saw, crash axe, pike pole, and power hawk, or “jaws of life”.

This is the first time the aircraft rescue firefighters were trying out a new, more compact and more mobile, electric “jaws of life” tool, said Brawand. The old tool was powered hydraulically and is not as mobile,

“Despite having less training with the new tool in comparison to others, we were able to accomplish the mission and rescue the victim,” said Lance Cpl. Alejandro Junco, an aircraft rescue firefighter with the squadron.

The Marines believe using these new tools and participating in training scenarios, like these, help develop the bond with their fellow firefighters.

“Even though we are Marines, we are firefighters,” said Sinclair. “While the Marine Corps is known for being a brotherhood, I think it runs a little bit thicker on the crash crew side of the house.”

• Date Taken: 12.06.2011
• Date Posted: 12.14.2011 19:04
• Story ID: 81379
• Location: IE SHIMA, OKINAWA, JP