U.S. Air Force airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing participated in Exercise Grand Shield 22-4 on Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, May 15, 2022. Exercise Grand Shield 22-4 lasted from May 11 to May 17. The six-day period marked the fourth iteration of Grand Shield, a training series that allows the wing to evaluate and maintain its readiness posture. Members of the Wing Inspector General's office oversaw the simulation of emergency situations all over the base, as well as observed the effectiveness of the wing's responses. Unit members responded to a number of internal and external threats, such as airfield emergencies and eventually, missile attacks. Maintaining readiness remains one of the wing's primary objectives.
When someone thinks of firefighters, the first thing that comes to mind is a depiction of them saving kittens from a tree, Dalmatians, or riding in the iconic fire truck. United States Air Force firefighters, specifically the ones at Al Udeid Air Base, take on a lot more than one would think.