Spare Time Training

Airmen train Iraqi firefighters at international airport

25 July 07

by Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke

447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

NEW AL-MUTHANA AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Firefighters from the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron are spending their spare time training firefighters from the Iraqi air force to make them an autonomous unit at New Al-Muthana Air Base.

Airmen spend about one day a week running Iraqis through drills and training procedures. During training earlier this month, Master Sgt. Craig Milton, the 447th ECES assistant fire chief, put together a live building fire. During this scenario the firefighters from the U.S and Iraqi air forces had to work together to extinguish the fire and rescue a 200-pound dummy from a burning room.

Other training involved a simulated burning aircraft where Iraqis had to shut down jet engines and remove an unconscious pilot. Airmen have been training Iraqis regularly for about two months, said Master Sgt. Steven Carver, the 447th ECES deputy fire chief.

The most pressing obstacle is the Iraqi's equipment deficit. Sergeant Carver said they just cannot obtain good equipment easily and could use up-to-date rescue trucks and more breathing tanks. However, other areas involve a mindset, and not the pocketbook.

Inexperience is a speed bump since none of the Iraqis here were firefighters before April 2003, said Hassan Shimary, the Iraqi air force fire chief. "In the United States, (firefighters) have learned from many mistakes, like rushing into a building without first making observations," Sergeant Carver said.

"People die if you don't consider the environment, and that's what we're trying to teach them."An entire U.S. Air Force squadron is here to provide guidance and to council the members of the Iraqi air force.

The 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron works closely with Iraqi airmen from multiple professions daily. But Col. Mark Schmitz, the 370th AEAS commander, said he has no firefighter advisers in his squadron, and he depends on the firefighters from the 447th ECES to volunteer help.

"I'm lucky enough to be based next to Sather where there are experienced firefighters," the colonel said. "The Iraqis have equipment, manning and training shortfalls, but I think their firefighters are improving because of the Sather firefighters help."

With the right training, the Iraqis will get the experience they need to be independent in a couple years, Sergeant Milton said. And during that time, the Iraqis said they hope to continue to build working relationships with Americans.

"We enjoy the experience to train with Americans," said Chief Shimary through a translator. "We are glad to have the Americans for friends; they give us confidence in what we're doing."

Photo - Master Sgt. Craig Milton observes firefighters from the Iraqi air force remove Staff Sgt. Vance Vansteel from an Iraqi C-130 flight deck July 9 at New Al-Muthana Air Base, Iraq. Sergeant Vansteel represented an unconscious pilot during a simulated aircraft fire. The exercise trained Iraqis to respond to an aircraft fire by shutting down engines and removing an unconscious pilot. U.S. Airmen set up the scenario and guided them through the process. Sergeants Milton and Vansteel are firefighters with the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. Photo Tech. Sgt. Russell