6 TIPS TO SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FIRE ACADEMY / U.S. AIR FORCE FIREFIGHTER SCHOOL
ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THEN SOME GO ON TO BECOME AIR FORCE FIREFIGHTERS…
One beautiful Fall Day in 1992, at the Chanute AFB, Illinois, U.S. Air Force (USAF) Fire Training Academy, as I sucked down the stream of clean air from my Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), angry flames, spitting fuel and heat, swept up the brick facade in front of me and branched over my head, engulfing the room.
We were in the Hot House and a USAF Fire Protection instructor barked muffled directions as my fellow trainee supported my shoulder, we lay down over a hundred gallons per minute of water onto the training fire base, sweeping left to right.
Steam, heat, fuel, water, sweat, mayhem, bliss.
We passed this evolution. And many more to graduate and earn our silver USAF Fire Protection badge and Firefighter I certification. Reminiscing like this had me ask myself, how does today’s USAF Fire Training compare to the training I completed 33 short years ago?
Let me give you a very short history of the fire academy, then Check out my 10 Solid Tips, to any prospective USAF Fire Protection candidate out there looking for information. I may be a seasoned Fire Protection veteran, but my advice is experience based and or backed by sound knowledge.
Read on Rookie.
MORE TEXAS SUN AND FUN – WHERE YOU WILL TRAIN
After graduating your 8-week U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT), at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, you will drive just over 3 hours to your Technical Training School 208 miles away, at Goodfellow AFB, also in Texas.
The Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy opened its state-of-the-art fire training facility in 1995. It provides a variety of beginning to advanced level firefighting and related training to include uniformed and civilian members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and other organizations.
An experienced staff of 190 instructors and support staff provide training to over 2,600 students in Fire Protection, Rescue, Hazardous Materials, Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector, Fire Officer, Fire Marshal, and National Incident Management System courses.
TIP # 1 BEFORE AIR FORCE BMT, UP YOUR CARDIO GAME BIG TIME
After BMT most of your fellow Airmen will head off to careers that do NOT require as a high a level of physical stamina and cardiovascular fitness that will be required and needed if you are to succeed as a USAF Firedawg.
Certainly, you want to be able to handle 68 days of 4 a.m. wake ups and 2-mile runs, however, surviving and completing missions in 1,200 degrees, enveloped in smoke and chaos, while sucking down a minimal amount of air as possible, is not only advised, BUT ALSO ESSENTIAL.
SO, BUILD UP A TERRIFIC AEROBIC CAPACITY PRIOR TO SHIPPING OFF TO BMT.
TIP # 2 BE READY TO LEARN A LOT, AND QUICKLY CHANGE SUBJECTS
There is A LOT to be covered in 68 days. 544 HOURS of training will be classroom based. Air Force fire training is the most challenging and elite in the world and crunching everything into just over 2 months is no small feat. (Chapman)
The Fire curriculum is separated into 6 training blocks.
BLOCK 1: First Responder, CPR, and Childbirth
BLOCK 2: Fire Protection Fundamentals
BLOCK 3: Structural Firefighting
BLOCK 4: Hazardous Materials
BLOCK 5: Airport Firefighting
“The academics can be a big surprise,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Hare, a Block 6 instructor. “Some people just don’t expect firefighter training to have this amount of class work.” (Chapman)
Pay attention and LISTEN. Don’t assume because the classroom portions are short and basic that it will be a breeze. Regular quizzes and assessments are common. KEEP UP.
TIP # 3 GET STRONG…
Within the first two weeks of firefighter training, a class of 20 students can shrink. Physical attrition takes its toll. Hopefully, as I mentioned in TIP#1, your cardio game is tops, but along with AEROBIC fitness you need ANAEROBIC development! Muscles and strength.
NO, you don’t need to become a bodybuilder or compete physically with USAF Pararescue, however, prior to BMT, learn the basics and LIFT WEIGHTS. I cover in detail exactly how to do this in my Airforcefiredawg Training segments, but for now, I advise, lift 2-3 times per week, Barbell Rows, Bench Press, Curls, Dips, etc. Keep it basic, progress the weights up when you can, KEEP IT BASIC, STRIVE TO IMPROVE EVERY WORKOUT.
To pull hose, hoist equipment, carry human beings form burning buildings, swing an axe, and be an Air Force Fire Hero, you MUST be STRONG.
TIP # 4 BECOME FLEXIBLE WITH DEXTERITY
Trust me, as an Air Force Firedawg, everything we did was with a sense of urgency. I loved this, this suited me, but not everyone feels this way. Well start developing this super hero ability. When an emergency is called over the net, you need to get into your fire gear (Bunkers) and board your vehicle safely and correctly in under 60 seconds, REPEATEDLY.
What’s a Bunker Drill? A timed drill where you don your protective overcoat, trousers, gloves, boots, helmet, hood, and all other components.
So, stretch daily, develop flexibility, and trust that when you are tasked with Bunker drills in training you will be more than ready. If you can’t access firefighter gear, check out the video i linked to at bottom. Watch how it’s done!
According to one Instructor, “Through bunker drills, we develop a sense of urgency that becomes second nature. You shouldn’t have to think about how to adjust your mask. You should just do it.” (Chapman)
A sense of urgency that is critical for fire crews to perform in real-world situations. “Response times are critical,” remarks Air Force Staff Sgt. Byron Beasley. “Brain damage occurs between 4 and 6 minutes and becomes irreversible after 10. When we receive a call, we have 1 minute to handle the call, 1 minute to ‘bunker-up’ and 4 minutes to get to the scene.” In a flight line environment, crews have only 1 minute to reach the emergency.” (Chapman)
TIP # 5 ARRIVE AT GOODFELLOW AFB – DISCIPLINED. THEN STAY DISCIPLINED
When we all break the bonds of BMT and arrive at our Technical Schools, we breathe a sigh of relief, we are on our way, less demands, less shouting, less demands for precision and timeliness.
Even though you will obtain “freedoms” gradually over time up until Fire School graduation, strict discipline is ever present and needed. DO NOT slip into bad habits. DO NOT become un-disciplined. As a future U.S. Air Force Firedawg this is even more critical.
In practical terms, don’t party, don’t drink, don’t become lazy, just don’t. Stay on top of things throughout Technical School and your Air Force career.
Be ready to banish doubts and run that next mile, squeeze out that last sit up, and perform at a top level every time and when demanded.
SHOW UP DISCIPLINED. STAY DISCIPLINED.
So, in total the Air Force will sink $28,000.00 into your training. They want a good return on their investment, but also want you to have a challenging and rewarding career as a U.S. Air Force Fire Protection Specialist. An Air Force Firedawg. Don’t let them or yourself down.
Not everyone takes the training seriously, and Instructors quickly identify those merely going through the motions and not giving 100 percent.
Give 100% at all times, and you will graduate, then move on to your first permanent duty station and Firedawg family.
TIP # 6 UTILIZE YOUR “DOWN” TIME PROPERLY
You might get homesick; you might get despondent and tired. We all did!
However, you will have your evenings, and eventually weekends. Use them well! Consciously try to unwind. Spend some time with new friends without partying and going the undisciplined route. Hit the base gym. Nap, call home, walk to music, do whatever your “thing” is and do it responsibly and regularly. Air Force facilities and opportunities are the best in the world for any military branch. And that’s a fact.
Get the mental and physical recovery you need, whenever you can, to stay fresh and ready for the next set of training evolutions!
TRUST ME, IT’S ALL WORTH IT
If you serve 4 years or 20+, you will discover that the friendships, comradery, travel, and pride will come with serving in the best Air Force on this globe. In addition, as an Air Force Firefighter, you get to become a member of a family within a family.
I should have stayed in for 20 years, climbed the ladder to Fire Chief, traveled more, met more people, had down time with fellow Firefighters, more laughs, more experiences.
But life takes us all in different directions and at the time we don’t know.
I assure you though, you and your USAF Firedawg brothers and sisters will be some of the closest friends will ever have in life. You don’t realize it at the time, but you eventually will.
Bust ass, graduate tops, then squeeze every bit out of life and your Air Force Firefighter experiences.
I did. You do it too.
Shift dismissed!
SOURCES/CITATIONS
- Airman 1st Class Erica Rodriguez, Training world class firefighters – https://www.goodfellow.af.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/584404/training-world-class-firefighters/
- Tech. Sgt. Dorian Chapman, Fire school dishes out world-class training – https://www.goodfellow.af.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/375149/fire-school-dishes-out-world-class-training/
- https://www.goodfellow.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/372985/312th-training-squadron