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Teamwork leads to mission readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class BrieAnna Stillman
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  In the military, many times the mission prevails through teamwork; teamwork throughout squadrons, organizations and internally within each shop.

With some jobs, teamwork is much more crucial to the specific mission, which is why fire training is so important for the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron fire fighters.

“Teamwork is very important, especially in the fire department,” said Airman 1st Class Dyllon Blanks, 20th CES firefighter. “You can’t just be an individual. Honestly, you have to rely on each other and be on your game because you really can’t do it by yourself.”

The fire department conducts training approximately once a month to simulate real-life situations.
A controlled fire will take place within a practice building and different teams will take turns putting out the fire at different angles in order to become diverse field in their training.

“The main purpose of our training is to stay ready,” said Staff Sgt. Terrell Thomas, 20th CES crew chief. “Just like any skill if you don’t practice or use it, you lose it and this training allows us to use it. Which gets us ready for the real thing as if it’s second nature to us.”

Training continues to be essential to the firefighting mission and keeps the firefighters on their toes for the real thing.

Both Blanks and Thomas agree training is fun and allows everyone to see their strengths and weakness, helping them become better overall firefighters.