There's a fire; now what? Petroleum supply students learn courses of action when fuels are aflame

By T. Anthony BellMay 5, 2016

Would-be firefighters
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A team of students from Uniform Company, 262nd Quartermaster Battalion, guided by an instructor, use a twin agent unit to put out a controlled fire during training April 28 at the QM School's Spc. Win'e Fire Suppression Training Facility. During the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Contemplating his turn
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. William Manso, Uniform Company, 262nd Quartermaster Battalion, contemplates his forthcoming iteration of fire suppression training after donning protective equipment April 28 at the QM School's Spc. Win'e Fire Suppression Training Facility. He w... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Anticipation
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEE, Va. (May 5, 2016) -- Much of what students learn during the Petroleum Supply Specialist Course involves the receipt, issuance and storage of petroleum products.

In the conduct of those duties, personnel must protect against the ever-present threat of fire. That's why training at the Quartermaster School's Spc. Win'e Fire Suppression Training Facility is essential. Students not only learn emergency procedures but get valuable hands-on experience that can't be replicated in a classroom, said Staff Sgt. Melvin Johnson, an instructor team chief.

"You can explain this on PowerPoint all day, but that goes right over their heads as opposed to coming out here and actually using the equipment, knowing the importance of having battle buddies, learning safety procedures and feeling the hose pressure," he said after an April 28 training session.

During the two-hour familiarization, each student donned protective gear and was allowed a few minutes to man the lead position of a firefighter team tasked with suppressing a controlled fire.

Roughly 50 Soldiers from Victor and Uniform companies, 262nd QM Battalion, underwent the training that occurs during the ninth of an 11-week course.