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188th Wing's state firefighting mission ends after 27 years

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody Martin
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Alexander Graham Bell once said, "When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

On Sept. 30 2014, the 188th Wing's state fire protection mission with its fire emergency services flight ended as part of the Wing's conversion to remotely piloted aircraft and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission sets, concluding 27 years of excellence that the fire department provided every day.

"Throughout the years we increased training and capabilities," said Rocky Lambert, senior military firefighter for the 188th Wing. "We ran hazardous material, urban search and rescue and we did crash rescue. We covered the base, the buildings, and the airfield."

The 188th Fire Department's state mission spanned for 27 years, from Oct. 1, 1987 to Sept. 30, 2014. During that time, members of the fire department have provided fire protection both on and off base. This included furnishing fire protection for the Fort Smith Regional Airport. The firefighters provided immeasurable support and the ability to respond to numerous incidents.

"Firefighters are the first people to go in during a deployment, because without fire protection they can't land the planes," Lambert said. "The 188th Civil Engineering Squadron sets up the airfield and we set up fire protection and the pilots land planes. In a combat environment the job level was the same, just the stress level was different."

Throughout the years, the 188th Fire Department has strived for excellence and has met the criteria multiple times. The 188th firefighters earned the Air Force Inspection Team rating of "Excellent" in 1990 and 1992, and the Chief Master Sgt. Edward W. Wolbert Award for Air National Guard Fire Department of the Year award.

Approximately 20 members who worked as state employees with the fire department transferred to Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, Arkansas to stand up a Fire and Emergency Services Division (FES). Although the state mission will no longer be an asset to call upon for the 188th Wing, there will still be drill status Guardsmen (DSGs) that will remain to support the 188th Wing.

"The department will consist of 27 DSG personnel supporting the military mission and one federal military technician fire chief," said Master Sgt. Terry Edwards, 188th Wing Fire chief. "He will serve the 188th directly by establishing, executing and maintaining FES programs, determining the resources required, conducting risk assessments, advising commanders regarding risk and capability and implementing risk management actions."

The fire department has been a symbol of excellence for the wing, and the remaining members of the fire department are prepared to continue to show that distinction with its future responsibilities in the new mission.

"For 27 years, the state firefighters served the state of Arkansas and the 188th admirably," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Wing commander said. "They will certainly be missed. We wish all of them well in their endeavors well as they venture on to new jobs at Fort Chaffee and the local community."

188th Wing's state firefighting mission ends after 27 years

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody Martin
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Alexander Graham Bell once said, "When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

On Sept. 30 2014, the 188th Wing's state fire protection mission with its fire emergency services flight ended as part of the Wing's conversion to remotely piloted aircraft and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission sets, concluding 27 years of excellence that the fire department provided every day.

"Throughout the years we increased training and capabilities," said Rocky Lambert, senior military firefighter for the 188th Wing. "We ran hazardous material, urban search and rescue and we did crash rescue. We covered the base, the buildings, and the airfield."

The 188th Fire Department's state mission spanned for 27 years, from Oct. 1, 1987 to Sept. 30, 2014. During that time, members of the fire department have provided fire protection both on and off base. This included furnishing fire protection for the Fort Smith Regional Airport. The firefighters provided immeasurable support and the ability to respond to numerous incidents.

"Firefighters are the first people to go in during a deployment, because without fire protection they can't land the planes," Lambert said. "The 188th Civil Engineering Squadron sets up the airfield and we set up fire protection and the pilots land planes. In a combat environment the job level was the same, just the stress level was different."

Throughout the years, the 188th Fire Department has strived for excellence and has met the criteria multiple times. The 188th firefighters earned the Air Force Inspection Team rating of "Excellent" in 1990 and 1992, and the Chief Master Sgt. Edward W. Wolbert Award for Air National Guard Fire Department of the Year award.

Approximately 20 members who worked as state employees with the fire department transferred to Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, Arkansas to stand up a Fire and Emergency Services Division (FES). Although the state mission will no longer be an asset to call upon for the 188th Wing, there will still be drill status Guardsmen (DSGs) that will remain to support the 188th Wing.

"The department will consist of 27 DSG personnel supporting the military mission and one federal military technician fire chief," said Master Sgt. Terry Edwards, 188th Wing Fire chief. "He will serve the 188th directly by establishing, executing and maintaining FES programs, determining the resources required, conducting risk assessments, advising commanders regarding risk and capability and implementing risk management actions."

The fire department has been a symbol of excellence for the wing, and the remaining members of the fire department are prepared to continue to show that distinction with its future responsibilities in the new mission.

"For 27 years, the state firefighters served the state of Arkansas and the 188th admirably," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Wing commander said. "They will certainly be missed. We wish all of them well in their endeavors well as they venture on to new jobs at Fort Chaffee and the local community."