Airman learning firefighting skills

Dick Benoit

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 8:18 a.m.

Airman Basic Anthony Benedict, son of Edivina Benedict of Las Vegas, recently began training as a military firefighter at the Louis Garland Defense Department Fire Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.

"Heroes made here," states a large banner in the main bay of the school and, while Benedict may not attain hero status simply by graduating from the 13-week firefighter apprentice course, he will have the skills required to become one, officials at the school say.

"I'm really excited with this chance to become a firefighter," he said. "It's a new experience and it's a great job. It'll be great to help people every day."

Benedict's training is twofold, according to Air Force spokesman Jim Hughes. While learning what it takes to battle fires and save lives, he and his classmates continue learning and practice of military customs and courtesies begun in basic training. But the fitness, skills and equipment needed to do the job receive the emphasis.

Benedict puts on full firefighter bunker gear with self-contained breathing apparatus and pulls or carries 100-pound dummies to safety, wades into fires with flames over his head and drags heavy fire hoses for 300 yards, just to name a few of the challenges he faces.

When Benedict completes the course, he will be certified by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress and he will have earned 26 college credits. He will be fully trained in fire protection fundamentals, emergency medical care, structural principles, structural and aircraft fire ground operations and how to deal with hazardous materials.

In brief