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Airmen teach contractors life-saving skills

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lisa Spilinek
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq --  When it comes to rescuing someone trapped in a vehicle, using the 'Jaws of Life' can mean the difference between life and death -- but only if the tool is used properly.

The Air Force Fire Department at Balad recently led refresher training sessions for U.S. government contracted personnel who routinely recover military vehicles throughout Iraq on how to use potentially life-saving hydraulic tools.

Seventeen senior mechanic contractors who work for KBR Theater Transportation Mission Recovery, the lead contractor for vehicle recovery, attended the class. Most had worked as vehicle operators in the U.S. before arriving in Iraq recently, said Shawn Stark, KBR TTM Recovery training supervisor.

"Mr. Stark called our training office to ask if anyone would consider doing joint training with the new equipment," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher McArdle, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department, "We took it one step further and provided an extrication class."

The class, a first for the Balad fire department, marked an important step for the contractors to train jointly with the Air Force on the power tools, which included combination spreader shears, or "mini Jaws of Life." These powerful tools, which look like three-foot long pliers, can exert 20,900 pounds per square inch of force at their tips and can both cut and force apart vehicle parts.

"We may never have to use the equipment, but it's always good to stay proficient with it," said Scott Hesse, TTM Recovery senior mechanic and Gulf War Army veteran from Tennessee, who arrived in Iraq Feb. 23.

Mr. Hesse and the other senior mechanics are responsible for retrieving stuck, broken down and destroyed military vehicles throughout Iraq. While unlikely, if a vehicle is hit by an explosive device, military or contract personnel could be trapped inside and the mechanics could be the first to report to the scene due to their close proximity to the accident, Mr. Stark said.

"These guys are going out to rescue our boys and recover our vehicles. It's definitely a one team, one fight mentality," said Sergeant McArdle, who is a reservist attached to the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., fire department. As a civilian, Sergeant McArdle is a firefighter and has provided hydraulic tool and rescue training to fire departments in New York, North Carolina and Ohio.

Rescuing people isn't the only use for the tools, however. They also come in handy when the contractors need to bring disabled vehicles back to forward operating bases throughout Iraq.

In the past, removing dislodged vehicle parts or obstacles required the use of winches and chains, which could further damage disabled vehicles. The ability to cut away these parts or obstacles helps the contractors maintain the working vehicle parts, said Andrew McColm, the KBR TTM Recovery supervisor of Balad and forward operating base Warhorse.

Nothing is ever left or abandoned -- to include behemoth military vehicles such as strikers, buffaloes and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, Mr. Stark said.

Recovered vehicles can often be returned to use after being fixed.

"Just because something is recovered doesn't mean it's destroyed. We're happy to recover it if it's broken down or just stuck in the mud," Mr. Stark said.

Even vehicles that can't be returned to service are recovered to prevent enemy forces from finding them, thus denying the enemy the opportunity to determine vehicle weaknesses for later attacks.

"There's nothing that will break down out there that we can't or haven't been able to bring back," Mr. McColm said.

Providing a safer work environment is another benefit of the tools, which allow the senior mechanics to cut vehicles rather than using wreckers to pull them apart.
During the refresher course, the men were able to have hands on practice cutting through six and four-layer bulletproof glass.

After more than 50 sledge hammer blows, a test piece of a bulletproof windshield had cracked but had not shattered, said Julian Telesmikov, a senior mechanic from Russia who now resides in Oceanside, Calif. By creating a small access space, or "purchase point," on the side of the vehicle window, the contractors were able to use tank bars, a bigger, stronger version of a crow bar, and the spreader shears to pry the glass away to get to the vehicle's interior faster and with less effort.

"I love it," Mr. Telesmikov said about the course. "We get to play with toys and make sure vehicles are completely destroyed. I feel confident using the Jaws of Life."

While it may have been fun to experiment with the tools on vehicles at Balad's junk yard, ensuring the safety of the participants was a priority for the instructors, said Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Rodney Ourso, who volunteered to help with the training. The senior chief works in the Navy Customs office at Balad and is a Navy Reservist in New Orleans.

The senior chief reminded the contractors to be cognizant of locations on vehicles that when cut into could cause airbags to deploy, which could cause injuries to the contractors or trapped occupants. He also reminded the contractors ensure vehicle batteries are disconnected before vehicles are towed.

"Don't get tunnel vision. See the big picture -- safety first," said the senior chief, who in his civilian life is a St. Bernard, La., fire captain and rescue squad member.

After the contractors complete additional TTM Recovery course at Balad to acquaint them with the myriad military vehicles they may have to recover, they will be positioned at recovery locations throughout Iraq ready and waiting to recover vehicles when needed.

"Hopefully this training saves lives," said Senior Chief Ourso.

The contractors' role in supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom is clear to them.

"We've got a huge mission," said Mr. Stark, who has worked in Iraq for the past three years. "I understand that I'm doing a Soldier's job, but when I'm out there on the ground that's one Soldier's life that isn't endangered."