JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Things began to heat up for the 624th Regional Support Group Commander along with the 624th Civil Engineer Squadron Commander joined the 624th CES firefighting Airmen Nov. 2 at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Field Training Area here during their unit training assembly.
Col. Athanasia Shinas and Lt. Col. Reid Matsuda, 624th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, participated with the firefighters during their required annual hands-on external Aircraft Rescue Firefighting training scenario.
“Getting suited up with our firefighters for the first time was an incredible opportunity,” said Shinas. “I was excited to see their training up close. This was the first burn for most of our firefighters since returning from their recent deployment.”
The 624th CES provides mission-ready Reserve Citizen Airmen to meet downrange firefighting deployment requirements. They protect people and property from fires and disasters. They also conduct fire prevention techniques, perform rescues, and handle hazardous materials. Various training scenarios improve their capability to respond to aircraft incident, medical emergency, fires, and natural disasters.
“This training keeps us proficient so we can execute when called upon,” said Tech. Sgt. Justin Sabio, 624th CES firefighting crew chief. “It was great having our leadership join us. It provided then with insight into the physicality of our job, and shows why it’s so important to have this training for our team.”
Approximately 90 percent of the 624th CES firefighting team are civilian firefighters in their local communities.