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USTRANSCOM members can take the heat

Three U.S. Transportation Command enlisted members braved the heat of a fire training session Aug. 14 at the invitation of the 375th Air Mobility Wing Civil Engineers Chief Master Sgt. Jesus Longoria, base fire chief.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – Three U.S. Transportation Command enlisted members braved the heat of a fire training session Aug. 14 at the invitation of the 375th Air Mobility Wing Civil Engineers Chief Master Sgt. Jesus Longoria, base fire chief.


Donning silver protective fire-fighting gear, complete with air packs, Chief Master Sgt.  Marty Klukas, USTRANSCOM senior enlisted leader, Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Randall, command first sergeant and Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Grace, USTRANSCOM’s Army element first sergeant spent the morning in various fire training scenarios.


“It was awesome,” said Klukas.  “Firefighting has no room for the faint-hearted.  Their ‘cup of courage’ overflows to do what they do.”


After spending time in a smoke-filled training building, Klukas was drenched in sweat and happy to get some of the gear off.


“I was amazed at the lack of visibility (in the smoke-filled training area),” Klukas said, “and I got a new-found appreciation for the amount of trust they (firefighters) have to have with one another.”


While Randall and Grace appeared unaffected by the sweltering heat of the silver suits, they too learned from the experience.


“I really took firefighters for granted prior to the training, never being exposed to fire in that capacity,” Grace said. “After going through the training, I truly have a greater appreciation.


“I said to myself,” Grace continued, “‘I will be at church on Sunday, because if it's hotter than this in hell, I'm not trying to go there.’”


“It was damn hot in there,” Randall added.  “They had us take a glove off and hold a hand above our head to feel the heat.  I thought it would singe the hair on my hand.  It put into perspective how important teamwork is to complete their mission.”


A morning spent wearing the silver suits doesn’t make one a firefighter, but it does give a bit of insight into their daily lives.


“It meant a lot to us for them to show us a little of what they do for us on a day-to-day basis,” Klukas said.  “It's easy to take them for granted and I certainly walked away with a much deeper appreciation for our firefighting warriors.”


                                                            - USTRANSCOM -


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