Wolf Pack fire muster fosters readiness, camaraderie

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The 8th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department tested Wolf Pack Airmen's physical fitness capabilities during their annual base wide Fire Muster at the Wolf Pack Fitness Center here, June 13.

Fire musters give Airmen from different career fields across the wing an opportunity to test their fitness abilities against one another. Events were broken up into individual and team categories.

"It's nice when Airmen can come out and see what other jobs entail," said Staff Sgt. Jordan Lorenzen, 8th CES firefighter crew chief. "Are you physically fit enough to perform any job in the Air Force across the board, or are you just fit for ... your job?"
Lorenzen was responsible for organizing and coordinating the event.

"It was great seeing Airmen not only perform the physical part of our job, but exceling at it," Lorenzen said. "They were competitive in the firefighter world even though they're not firefighters."

The fire muster was open to the entire base for individual and team events. 

Participants had eight minutes to complete a 10-stage firefighter training circuit. Each stage in the challenge was modeled after the physical training test Airmen are required to take prior to graduating from firefighter technical school.

"It's a challenging event all around," Lorenzen said. "We provided an opportunity for people to come out and try a training circuit they were not accustomed to."

Tech. Sgt. Brian Daubert, 8th Operation Support Squadron Survive, Evade, Resist and Escape NCO in charge, won the individual challenge with a time of five minutes and 20 seconds.  Some of the tasks in the individual category included a 100-foot charged hose line pull, a 150-pound dummy drag, a five-inch hose drag and a Hurst equipment carry.

"I can see how someone can underestimate the course, thinking it's easy," said Daubert. "The hose pull was the hardest part for me. Performing the events back to back was also tough."

The latter portion of the fire muster was geared towards team-building and camaraderie. The Republic of Korea Air Force and Gunsan City fire departments also participated in the fire muster.

"Any opportunity we have to interact with the ROKAF or Gunsan City fire department sharpens our operations, whether it's for training or a fire muster," Lorenzen said.

Firefighters from ROKAF and the U.S. Air Force routinely collaborate for aircraft and structural fire training.

"When we're focused on achieving a goal, it brings us together," Lorenzen said. "That way, we're more prepared to collaborate during a crisis or emergency."