![]() "But, you never know when knowing how to tie a certain knot can save a life in a rescue or during a mission."Īfter a long morning and a quick lunch, the assistant station chief calls everyone into the training room to go over different firefighting scenarios that the Airmen might encounter in a classroom education environment. "Practicing knots may seem silly or boring," began Cappel. Today, Cappel and his truck practiced tying knots and then moved onto emergency medical response training. It's also good for the newer guys to familiarize themselves with the truck and see where everything is located."Īfter a thorough operations check on the trucks, each truck group breaks into training time with their crew chiefs, which is the title for the person responsible for the entire truck and everyone on it during their shift. ![]() "If you're a tailboarder, you're going to check to see if you have all the equipment you need and if it's in working condition. "If you're a driver, this is when you go to see if the truck is working, if you have enough water, if you have enough fuel or whatever it is you need for your tour," said Cappel. The station chief addresses both shifts with any concerns and each shift relays important information before being dismissed to go home or begin checks. The oncoming shift and the outgoing shift line up in front of the chief and superintendent for the sake of continuity. The shift begins with getting the gear ready before a daily roll-call. to shave, shower and prepare for his 24-hour shift, where he'll be asked to respond to anything from a routine car accident to fighting aircraft and building fires in a moment's notice. The day for Cappel starts like most in the Air Force - early. My dad had the same passion and it was one of those things where I knew I wanted to step into his shoes growing up." It has to be something real, something that's in your heart. "I would say that firefighting is a passion. "I wouldn't say that firefighting is a job or a career" explains Cappel. He ensures the safety of the people placed under his care, which happens to be the entire base populous.Ĭappel says the burden isn't felt because of the enthusiasm his firefighting father instilled in him at a young age. His occupation requires him to protect, but not in the sense of security. Cappel is a firefighter with the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron. When he finally walks into the station, he has to be ready - real alarms could sound at any time.Īirman 1st Class Joseph Cappel holds a heavy responsibility every day he puts on his uniform. The early-morning stupor wears away and it's time to be alert. AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy - The alarm clock cuts through the silence of the night and he jumps from the bed, rubs his eyes and stumbles out into the darkness.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |