Kadena firefighters, train local first responders

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marcus Morris
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  More than 35 local emergency first responders received emergency aircraft safety training from the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters here, Nov. 6.

As part of a 2008 agreement between the Japanese government and the U.S. military, installations on Okinawa take turns hosting biannual aircraft safety training for the local first responders. This type of training gives them experience with the various aircraft at each base in the unlikely event an aircraft makes an emergency landing off base or crashes.

The training at Kadena was designed to familiarize first responders with the F-15 Eagle, KC-135 Stratotanker and HH-60 Pave Hawk.

"This critical training helps save not only American lives but Japanese lives as well," said Master Sgt. Aaron Duggins, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant chief of operations.
"As people are trained better their confidence level increases and we can alleviate some of the anxiety."

The training consisted of aircraft safety power point slides, followed by a walk around of each aircraft to teach them how to properly approach and handle various fire and safety hazards.

One of the dangers the firefighters went over with the first responders was aircraft hot breaking. Heavy braking stops the plane in time but can produce temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit which increases the risk of rupturing tires or igniting fuel during ground refueling for quick turnaround missions.

"This training was very impressive and had a lot of useful information," said Hitoshi Tasaki, the Japanese Director of Crisis Management for Okinawa. "Normally local first responders do not have the opportunity to train with military aircraft, and I would like to express my deep gratitude for the military's cooperation."

Through international training efforts such as these, Duggins said the U.S. and Japanese first responders are able to strengthen their partnership.

"We are grateful for our time together with the local first responders and we're able to build our relationship even stronger," Duggins said.

Further training for the local first responders will be conducted in six months with different aircraft and base.