Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Michigan HAZMAT training grows compatibility between nations By  2nd Lt. Andrew B. Layton
                110th Attack Wing, Michigan Air National Guard
 ALPENA, Mich. – From March 8 -17, a multinational training and exercise event for Mine Safety Appliance, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) maintenance and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling was facilitated by the Michigan Air National Guard at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. The 80-hour HAZMAT curriculum, certified by the State of Michigan and the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), was attended by five military firefighters from Latvia and two aircraft maintenance officers from Bulgaria. The Latvian participants are from Lielvārde Air Base, the primary military airfield in Latvia that supports NATO, U.S. and Latvian air operations in Latvia and the Baltic region. The Bulgarian Air Force personnel hail from Graf Ignatievo Air Base. Since 2013, Lielvārde's fire department has been working with Michigan Air National Guard counterparts under the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP) while Bulgaria is partnered with Tennessee. "As an Air Force firefighter, you have to have some HAZMAT experience," said Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Wohlford, Alpena CRTC fire chief. "We're trying to help them get their feet wet dealing with these kind of materials." Wohlford said that when planning the week's agenda, his team of instructors started with the State of Michigan HAZMAT course, which is also recognized by the National Fire Academy, and tailored it for special emphasis on factors relating to aircraft fires. Portions of the course were taught by civilian firefighters employed by the State of Michigan, which played to the interagency theme of the firefighters' mission. "At Lielvārde, they typically have seven firefighters on shift at any given time," said Wohlford. "Whenever you're dealing with HAZMAT, it takes a lot of people and a lot of equipment – they would be augmented by their local civilian fire department if a situation occurred." Wohlford added that the goal of the training was to provide firefighters with foundational knowledge necessary to establish an initial response in advance of their civilian counterparts arriving at the scene. According to students and instructors, the training and exercise event in northern Michigan provided a unique opportunity for professional discussion, intense skills development, and cross-cultural exchange. "We're all firefighters," said Steve Barber, a State of Michigan employee who taught a portion of the course material. "The more we can work together and the more we can learn from each other, the better we will function as a team." One of the interesting discoveries for instructors was that in Bulgaria, response teams are dispatched to aircraft incidents that include fire fighters, medical personnel, and aircraft maintenance specialists to fully assess a scene. "We're not first responders like the rest," said Capt. Nikolay Katsarov, a maintenance specialist for Bulgaria's fleet of MiG-29s. "We're interested in dealing with HAZMAT because we are aircraft maintainers and that's something we would encounter." Officials are quick to point out that strategically, this type of multinational security cooperation activity supports U.S. European Command and NATO objectives, providing both tangible and intangible value. According to Lt. Col. Dustin Budd, Michigan National Guard Bilateral Affairs Officer in Riga, Latvia, such training opportunities directly strengthen NATO by contributing to the capabilities of partner nations, the capacity to support U.S. and NATO air operations, and an ability to operate seamlessly together. "These events also introduce people to each other and foster the relationships that lead to greater professional understanding and personal friendships," said Budd. "We all gain from a strong, vigilant, and credible NATO force. This event adds another small piece to the puzzle as it builds airbase essential services and ultimately supports air operations in Europe." Additional training events are planned to occur at Alpena CRTC later this year and beyond. "It's always our sincere pleasure to host coalition partners for training or exercises and we're fortunate to have incredible facilities here that are uniquely suited for events just like this." said Col. John Miner, Alpena CRTC commander. "The chance to work with our Latvian partners in particular always brings with it a real sense of accomplishment, appreciation, and esprit de corps as we build on a long and successful history of mutual cooperation and friendship." For students, the value added is tangible – and immediate. Pfc. Aleksandrs Tomsons, is excited to take new certifications on self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment back to Latvia. "I can now make adjustments and small fixing jobs on tanks," said Tomsons. "We'll take many good things back to improve our training and readiness at home."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 7 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 15 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 15 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil