MCGREGOR RANGE, N.M. -- Several noncommissioned officers from the 3rd Battalion, 364th Engineer Regiment, Task Force Rampant, 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, and Airmen from Holloman Air Force Base conducted Joint-Firefighter Training to maintain military occupational specialty proficiency on Sept. 20.
On the training grounds at Holloman Air Force Base, TF Rampant Army Firefighters trained to maintain their yearly proficiency in Structural, Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting, Wildland Fire Fighting, and Hazardous Material Training.
The noncommissioned officers of Rampant have a unique mission at Fort Bliss, Texas. They are responsible for the training and deployment of all Army Reserve and Army National Guard Firefighter Soldiers to contingency operations around the world.
Before the Reserve and National Guard firefighting teams deploy they must complete their training at Fort Bliss, and the TF Rampant firefighting team poised to train those units used this training to remain up to date on the procedures and tactics in an ever changing environment.
"Today we are here to complete our quarterly structural live fire. We have to go into the Live Fire Trainer with the units we are training to provide safety and ensure they're conducting operations safely and efficiently," said Staff Sgt. Omar De La Cruz, a station chief/training officer with TF Rampant.
As the day progressed, firefighters from both Holloman and TF Rampant completed over 12 separate rotations. Both Air Force and Army firefighters trained side by side through the smoke and heat coming from the Structural Live Fire Trainer.
"Temperatures can range from 700 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit; we have to train for the real deal. The fire that is raging in an ASP (Ammunition Supply Point) or DFAC (dining facility) downrange will be much higher," said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Piercy, the incoming TF Rampant Fire Chief. "What we are doing today is preparing to send fellow firefighters to those places."
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