Airman helps shape future Afghan firefighters

Published Dec. 4, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore
U.S. AFCENT News Team

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan firefighters at the Kabul International Airport stand ready to answer a call to save lives and resources here thanks to the dedicated efforts of their American counterpart.

Air Force Master Sgt. Mike Marascia, Afghan fire protection mentor, has spent the last 11 months establishing the Afghan Joint Fire Academy where he serves as the commandant.

When Sergeant Marascia, a native of Plainedge, N.Y., arrived here, the tools he needed to start the academy were already in place. His predecessors had worked with their counterparts in Iraq to get equipment for the Afghan prospects and course materials which had to be translated into Dari, the prominent Afghan language.

"When I arrived, we had 11 untrained firefighters in the air corps," Sergeant Marascia said. "Today the fire protection program has been one of the more successful career fields in terms of building a sustainable training program within Afghanistan. The fire protection academy is the only joint training endeavor between the ANAAC and the Ministry of Defense."

The sergeant, deployed from the 1st Civil Engineering Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., said he believes the success of the fire program can be attributed to tailoring it to meet the student's educational needs; a mutual respect between the students and instructors; and the support of his leadership.

"I tweaked the courses a little bit to better suit the Afghan educational levels and gave the instructors permission to do the same since they understand the educational levels, mentality and the Afghan fire protection standards," he said.

Sergeant Marascia also oversaw the hiring of two Afghan instructors for academy.

"[In working with the Ministry of Defense], we lucked out and were able to contract a couple of retired fire chiefs who have been [fighting] fire as long as I have been alive," he said. "These instructors have a wide group of students from across the country mixed between officer and enlisted ranks with varying education levels. Our instructor corps handles that training mix very well. They are very knowledgeable and well respected."

When the training process began, Sergeant Marascia faced an obstacle he did not expect.

"I was surprised that I had to make them understand the importance of wearing their protective equipment," he said. "I figured we would give it to them, and they would just wear it all the time; but it really took a lot of effort to train them to wear their gear to every fire, every time. There were no safety standards in Afghanistan, so it took them some time to understand the need for all the gear, but now they understand."

The Plainedge High School class of 1996 graduate is reassured by this understanding.

"I know when they go into a building and utilize this training, they will come out alive," he said. "Seeing them practice what we taught them is the most rewarding part of this job."

Sergeant Marascia said teaching his Afghan students was different than mentoring Airmen.

"In the beginning [when] building a relationship with them, [I had to show] them that I was not going away and that training was a very important aspect of firefighting" he said. "That period can be challenging because they don't just do what you say, because you said it. You have to build a relationship with them first. Through persistence and a developed mutual respect, they understood the processes and programs we brought were for their benefit and development."

Once relationships were established, Sergeant Marascia pressed forward with the training.

"They got it; they have now responded to numerous emergencies and utilized their training successfully," he said. "So they understand the importance of training. Ultimately, it is their process, their school and their development - their everything.

"The students are very motivated, which is a real plus," he said. "They have done well so far, and I am very impressed."

Sergeant Marascia recognizes he could not have achieved the success with the fire program he did without the support of others.

"Probably the biggest ingredient to our success was the support I had from my interpreter, leadership and peers," Sergeant Marascia said. "Our school here would not be possible without their support. Noor, my interpreter, is a reason for the success of this program. He is as motivated as I am. Every day he gives it his all. I call him at night with some crazy ideas that I want to add into training the next day.

"It was definitely a team effort," he said. "We were able to build something from nothing. We built a complete technical school where firefighters throughout the country will come to get training."

Sergeant Samargul, an ANAAC firefighter, who has been a firefighter for three years graduated from the Joint Fire Academy basic course; it was the first formal fire training course he had ever attended.

"We are very happy [with] this program; the material is very useful," Sergeant Samargul said. "It is very effective training."

After spending half a day going through fire training drills alongside Joint Fire Academy graduates, Army Col. James Brandon, 438th AEW deputy commander, recognized the efforts of Sergeant Marascia.

"He has done such an incredible job here and laid the foundation putting them on the path for success," said the colonel. "We have a tremendous fire program. As far as the fire fighting academy and the training goes, it is really linked to one individual, and that is Sergeant Marascia. He has been a force of one in putting together this program. It just goes to show what the power of one person can do, and the impact they can have on such a substantial mission as we have here."

When Sergeant Marascia reflects on his deployment, he said it has been a rewarding experience that helped him grow as a firefighter.

"What I learned about mentoring is very simple - think big and continue to push forward," he said. "There was a saying many people used when I first arrived, 'three steps forward, then two steps back.' My thoughts on that were if we took three steps forward, we would not give one inch back."