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Base responds to firefighter challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shaun Emery
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Members of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing put their fitness to the test during the firefighter challenge here Aug. 16. 

The competition gave Airmen an insight into the firefighting world and the level of fitness it takes to do the job. 

Tech. Sgt. James Weglein, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Fire Protection station captain, said the competition is a tradition every rotation does for the base populous. 

"It's a big morale booster," he said. "It also helps the base realize what we do on a daily basis." 

When an alarm goes off, firefighters need to be prepared to face a number of unknown challenges. Whether it be dragging fire lines, chopping down doors or taking on a flight of stairs in full gear, their level of preparedness could be the difference between life and death. 

Fortunately for the 10 teams that showed up to take on the challenge, the only thing they need to worry about was how quickly they could complete the course. 

In the first leg of the event, competitors carried a Hurst tool, or Jaws of Life, 20 yards as quickly as possible. Awaiting them next was 50 pounds of fire hose that had to be carried up four flights of stairs. Upon reaching the top of the tower, competitors hauled another 50 pounds of line from the ground, hand over hand, over the railing. 

After racing back down the stairs, teams moved a large tire 12 inches using a sledge hammer. Next, teams had to drag a dummy, weighing approximately 150 pounds. To complete the event, competitors dragged a charged fire line 20 yards and turned on the water to knock down a cone. 

While completion times varied, one constant was the smiles on competitors' faces after finishing the course. 

"It was a blast," said Senior Airman Susan Sayas, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron shipment planner, deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. "It physically challenged me more than I thought it would." 

Airman Sayas was part of the only all-female team. She and her teammates came into the competition with the intent on finishing. They found just doing that was a pretty big undertaking. 

"It was tough, I was out of breath," said Senior Airman Leah Sands, 386th ELRS shipment planner, describing shouldering 50 pounds and taking on four flights of stairs. 

Her teammate, Staff Sgt. Jennifer Bush, 386th ELRS packing and crating non commissioned officer in charge, said for her the competition was a blur; she didn't even remember pulling the line over the railing. 

"All I know is my arms feel like rubber," she said. 

Teams from a number of career fields came out to show that you don't have to be a firefighter to compete head to head against them. 

"The firefighter challenge is an event these guys use to test their skills and capabilities," said Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Snoddy, 386th Mission Support Group superintendent. "It was great they were able to open it up to the rest of the Airmen on base. But, sometimes people underestimate the support folks, we believe in physical fitness." 

Not to be shown up, the firefighters came out in full force. And to show what they could do, they donned full gear, including jackets, helmet, pants, gloves and self-contained breathing apparatus. The extra gear weighs an excess of 100 pounds. With the gear comes loss of visibility and dexterity with. But that didn't stop the firefighters from putting up impressive times. 

"Your adrenaline is pumping, everyone is watching and you're trying not to make a mistake," said Sergeant Weglein. 

While it's nice to come in first, Chief Snoddy said the competition was about more than winning and losing. 

"It's about keeping airmen involved," he said. "Physical fitness can come in many forms, but at the end of the day it's about readiness." 

Results:
1st Place: Force Protection 2, 1:09.5
2nd Place: Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, 1:18.4
3rd Place: Explosive Ordnance Disposal, 1:20.1