MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Air National Guard Airmen from across the nation took a water break here June 17, 2014, with the late morning heat index climbing on the parade ground of the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center.
The Airmen were among 237 students in satellite Airman Leadership School and they performed their summative evaluation for drill and ceremony.
Master Sgt. Don Pierson, logistics manager for the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center, helped ensure their safety as well as the safety of others by monitoring the heat index, which climbed quickly to a Red Flag condition.
White, green, yellow, red and black heat index flags are an indicator of danger in hot weather.
"I do an announcement over the base, because it's important to know..." said Pierson.
"What it basically says is that if you're going to be exercising or active outside during a flag condition to be aware that you should only do the work and rest cycle for that current condition.
Senior Master Sgt. Paula Shawhan, director of education, said that the TEC's Paul H. Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center adjusts the location - indoor vs. outdoor - and time for human performance training with its NCO Academy and ALS classes.
"We also brief safety conditions and weather forecasts in the morning stand up with our instructors and staff," said Shawhan.
Student flights take turns supplying cold drinking water in big, orange coolers, she said.
Pierson said he also fills coolers with ice water at the campus running track as well as on the perimeter road for the base's runners.