MSG extinguishes flames

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brittany Y. Bateman
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Seven squadrons from the 2d Mission Support Group gathered at the softball fields on the East side June 12 to compete in Barksdale's Fireman Muster Competition. 

The Fireman Muster is a fire department competition which consisted of several events including a dummy drag, hose joust, midnight alarm and hose connection. These activities resemble training the Air Force firefighters use to keep their lifesaving skills sharp. 

"What we try to do with the events is recreate actual scenarios in a fire ground situation," said Staff Sgt. Steven Obrien, 2d Civil Engineering Squadron fire protection crew chief. "It brings the entire group together as a cohesive team to compete against each other for fun." 

The seven squadrons that participated were the 2d Security Forces Squadron and Special Weapons and Tactics team, 2d Force Support Squadron, 2d CES, 2d Logistics Readiness Squadron, 2d Contracting Squadron and 2d Communications Squadron. 

Each squadron had a team of eight members and a team captain. Members were rotated through events at their own discretion, but only the eight listed members could compete. 

Each challenge is a sample of the complex and vital job for military firefighters and first responders. The Fireman Muster is also an opportunity to walk in a fellow Airman's shoes. 

"I think people don't know firefighters because we stay in our own shop," said Senior Airman Linden Curtis, 2d CES firefighter. "Events like this make people see what we really do as firefighters." 

At the end of the event there was a three-way tie between three squadrons. The tie-breaker was the bucket brigade event where each team stimulated putting out a fire using buckets of water. The final standings of the competition was the 2d CS in third, 2d CONS in second and 2d SFS/SWAT team took first. 

"We have had this team together for roughly eight or nine years," said Tech. Sgt. Anthony Curry, 2d SFS. "We work as a team on the regular basis, so I think that was a big part of our success the guys work well together. My guys did great I was really proud of them, they represented our squadron well." 

The winning team took home a fire truck trophy picked out and presented by Col. Rob Huber, 2d MSG commander, along with a fire department t-shirt from the Fire Fighters Association.