Fire Academy gets new trainer Published Dec. 14, 2010 By Senior Airman Tong Duong 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- -- The Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy here recently acquired a new trainer, adding another line of tools to better train and equip firefighter students for the Defense Department. Instructors said, although construction of the new lightweight structural trainer took only a few short weeks, the impact it will have on the students will be everlasting. The academy holds up to 27 students per class and four classes each year. Instructors at the Academy currently host advanced Fire Protection courses and a Fire Protection Apprentice Course. The joint aspect of the academy serves all DOD employees to include Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Civil Service. Fire Protection Specialists from foreign countries also receive instruction at the academy. "This trainer will meet the new training line items, strictly for DOD Rescue Technician II students, (who are part of the advanced course) for National Fire Protection Act 1006, Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications, 2008 edition," said Josh Gillis, 312th Training Squadron Rescue Technician Instructor. "Every five years the standard changes to match new techniques set in place by career field engineers." The Academy currently has a much smaller version of this trainer but to meet the new line item, a new tool was required for training students to breach, search and shore up light frame structures involved in a natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake. The trainer has walls that are bowed to simulate an impending collapse on a load bearing interior and exterior wall, racked windows, cracked door frames and much more, according to Mr. Gillis. "These were all constructed to give the students a real world scenario, as well as meet line items set in place by NFPA 1006." Self funded by the academy and with the help of the 17th Civil Engineer squadron here, CES members from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., as well as local vendors, the project was completed ahead of schedule, but Mr. Gillis predicts the students will not use the trainer until June 2011. (Airman 1st Class Jessica D. Keith contributed to this article)
