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Flying Razorbacks in the community: 188th maintainer earns honors at Arkansas Fire Training Academy

  • Published
  • By 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Staff Sgt. Marcus R. Floyd is a weapons specialist in the 188th Fighter Wing Arkansas Air National Guard's Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. He's also now a civilian firefighter for the Fort Smith Fire Department. Floyd graduated from the Arkansas Fire Training Academy in 2013 with two certificates of special recognition.

While he is a rookie on the FSFD, he's a veteran of the active duty Air Force and the Air National Guard. That experience and dedication to the mission showed during the 2013 Winter Class at the Arkansas Fire Training Academy. Floyd was voted by his peers as Outstanding Rookie of the Class. Floyd's work in the classroom also earned him the Outstanding Academic Achievement certificate. Trainers at the state's firefighting academy have indicated that, to their knowledge, Floyd is the first firefighter to have earned both distinctions.

"It's all about work-hard, study-hard habits," Floyd said. "We're taught in the military and here at the Fort Smith Fire Department that when we begin our careers knowing how to shine our boots properly, everything else we learn is an extension of that. It builds a habit of excellence."

Floyd said during his first two weeks of training he learned that many of the principles of the military parallel those of the FSFD. Floyd, a 2006 graduate of Alma (Ark.) High School, joined the Air Force right after graduation. He was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, for five months in 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while on active duty.

"We learned that, as Fort Smith firefighters, we are expected to set the standard for excellence," Floyd said. "...It's the same in the military and it's ingrained into us... It's also something the department expects of us, it's what the City of Fort Smith expects of us, and it's definitely something our citizens deserve. Every day, the firefighters next to me go above and beyond - by far - what's required. It's something that gives me great hope for our community, that we have so many people who care about our citizens and our future."

Floyd left active duty in 2009 and joined the 188th. He deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, with the 188th in 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While in Bagram, Floyd was part of a 188th contingent that shattered wing deployment records in weapons dropped, 30mm rounds expended, combat sorties flown and combat hours logged while saving countless lives on the ground in nearly 500 troops-in-contact missions.

"We're proud of Staff Sgt. Floyd," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander. "The leadership skills they learn in the Air Force and the Air National Guard can be applied to any facet of life. You take them with you everywhere you go. I have no doubt he will continue to be an asset to the 188th and the Fort Smith Fire Department."

New recruits spend their first two weeks on the job under the supervision of Fort Smith firefighters before spending 10 weeks in Camden, Ark., at the state's training academy. The initial training period is intended to prepare recruits physically, mentally, and emotionally for the academy and for a lifetime of service with the Fort Smith Fire Department.

"Citizens have voted to invest heavily in fire protection in the past two years," said Mike Richards, Fort Smith Fire Department chief. "Our firefighters are responding in a way that is deeply satisfying. They prepare, practice, and perform as if they're serving the most important people on Earth, every day, right here in Fort Smith. Marcus Floyd's accomplishments at fire training academy are a reflection of our firefighters' commitment to excellence."

Hired last fall, Floyd now is assigned to Station 1 in downtown Fort Smith. While still a bomb loader on the 188th's A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs", Floyd said his current plans are to transition to the 188th Medical Group as a medical technician, a position that will allow him to utilize his civilian experience as an emergency medical technician.

The 188th is currently transitioning from a fighter mission to an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance/remotely piloted aircraft (MQ-9 Reaper) mission that will feature a distributed common ground station and a space-focused targeting squadron. The last A-10 will depart the 188th's Ebbing Air National Guard Base in June 2014. Floyd's current squadron will later be deactivated.

The Fort Smith Fire Department contributed information for this story.

Flying Razorbacks in the community: 188th maintainer earns honors at Arkansas Fire Training Academy

  • Published
  • By 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  Staff Sgt. Marcus R. Floyd is a weapons specialist in the 188th Fighter Wing Arkansas Air National Guard's Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. He's also now a civilian firefighter for the Fort Smith Fire Department. Floyd graduated from the Arkansas Fire Training Academy in 2013 with two certificates of special recognition.

While he is a rookie on the FSFD, he's a veteran of the active duty Air Force and the Air National Guard. That experience and dedication to the mission showed during the 2013 Winter Class at the Arkansas Fire Training Academy. Floyd was voted by his peers as Outstanding Rookie of the Class. Floyd's work in the classroom also earned him the Outstanding Academic Achievement certificate. Trainers at the state's firefighting academy have indicated that, to their knowledge, Floyd is the first firefighter to have earned both distinctions.

"It's all about work-hard, study-hard habits," Floyd said. "We're taught in the military and here at the Fort Smith Fire Department that when we begin our careers knowing how to shine our boots properly, everything else we learn is an extension of that. It builds a habit of excellence."

Floyd said during his first two weeks of training he learned that many of the principles of the military parallel those of the FSFD. Floyd, a 2006 graduate of Alma (Ark.) High School, joined the Air Force right after graduation. He was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, for five months in 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while on active duty.

"We learned that, as Fort Smith firefighters, we are expected to set the standard for excellence," Floyd said. "...It's the same in the military and it's ingrained into us... It's also something the department expects of us, it's what the City of Fort Smith expects of us, and it's definitely something our citizens deserve. Every day, the firefighters next to me go above and beyond - by far - what's required. It's something that gives me great hope for our community, that we have so many people who care about our citizens and our future."

Floyd left active duty in 2009 and joined the 188th. He deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, with the 188th in 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While in Bagram, Floyd was part of a 188th contingent that shattered wing deployment records in weapons dropped, 30mm rounds expended, combat sorties flown and combat hours logged while saving countless lives on the ground in nearly 500 troops-in-contact missions.

"We're proud of Staff Sgt. Floyd," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander. "The leadership skills they learn in the Air Force and the Air National Guard can be applied to any facet of life. You take them with you everywhere you go. I have no doubt he will continue to be an asset to the 188th and the Fort Smith Fire Department."

New recruits spend their first two weeks on the job under the supervision of Fort Smith firefighters before spending 10 weeks in Camden, Ark., at the state's training academy. The initial training period is intended to prepare recruits physically, mentally, and emotionally for the academy and for a lifetime of service with the Fort Smith Fire Department.

"Citizens have voted to invest heavily in fire protection in the past two years," said Mike Richards, Fort Smith Fire Department chief. "Our firefighters are responding in a way that is deeply satisfying. They prepare, practice, and perform as if they're serving the most important people on Earth, every day, right here in Fort Smith. Marcus Floyd's accomplishments at fire training academy are a reflection of our firefighters' commitment to excellence."

Hired last fall, Floyd now is assigned to Station 1 in downtown Fort Smith. While still a bomb loader on the 188th's A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs", Floyd said his current plans are to transition to the 188th Medical Group as a medical technician, a position that will allow him to utilize his civilian experience as an emergency medical technician.

The 188th is currently transitioning from a fighter mission to an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance/remotely piloted aircraft (MQ-9 Reaper) mission that will feature a distributed common ground station and a space-focused targeting squadron. The last A-10 will depart the 188th's Ebbing Air National Guard Base in June 2014. Floyd's current squadron will later be deactivated.

The Fort Smith Fire Department contributed information for this story.