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Citizen Airmen mentally prepare for war on fire

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 302nd Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
CHICO, Calif. --  The pressure is tense, the excitement is noticeable and Airmen, together with their two C-130H3 Hercules cargo aircraft, are answering the call to one of America's most dangerous locations.

These Airmen, deployed to California for firefighting support, are getting ready to take the fight to nature's fury.

"I'm proud both the Air Force Reserve and [Air National Guard] are able to support such a vital national mission," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Bailey, a loadmaster with the 302nd Airlift Wing, based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. "Airborne firefighting from the C-130 can support the guys on the ground in containing and extinguishing uncontrolled fires, while saving lives and people's property at the same time."

The Colorado Springs native, Sergeant Bailey has been fighting back fires in the Western U.S. for more than three years. To aide in fighting these fires, the 302nd AW, an Air Force Reserve unit, uses the modular airborne fire-fighting system which has the capability of dropping up to 30,000 pounds of water or fire retardant at one time. Three other units supporting the MAFFS mission belong to Air National Guard, including the 146th AW, based out of Charlotte, N.C.; the 153rd AW, from Cheyenne, Wyo.; and the Channel Islands based in Ventura, Calif.

Asked how he prepares himself for firefighting missions, Sergeant Bailey said his constant training and his state of mental readiness helps make him ready to perform this vital mission.

"Our unit is always ready and eagerly awaits the call to deploy and fight these fires," said Sergeant Bailey. "Just the thought of having the chance to make a difference is an adrenaline rush."

But it's not just the aircrew who shoulders the responsibility of saving the lives of California residents this day. Maintenance crews from the 302nd Maintenance Group have worked around-the-clock to ensure these Reserve C-130s' propellers turn; flaps move.

"We're ready and willing," said Master Sgt Jeffrey Hardsock, a C-130 aircraft maintainer. "No matter how well the planes are flying, the maintainers are the backbone of the operations and keep the birds in the sky."

Sergeant Hardsock, who has participated in the MAFFS mission since 1995, said he keeps his mental focus on two things: the safety of his crew and to do the job the way he was trained. But he also pointed out one of the main things that weighs on his mind while performing MAFFS missions each time are those you can't see when you fly overhead.

Once maintainers signal an aircraft is ready for flight, it's up to the aircrew to deliver what each hopes is the fatal blow to the wildfire. One member of the Peterson-based aircrew, Lt. Col. James Banker, said he's looking forward taking on these devastating fires.

"I've done this mission for 13 years," Colonel Banker, a seasoned C-130 pilot said. "Some years we fly a lot, some years we don't fly at all. My biggest year was in 2002 where I flew on 17 different fires. As a pilot, I know the aircraft has been inspected by the engineer and inspected several times by the crew chiefs. They know the risks involved with this mission and give it their all to provide us with the best equipment possible. I do the same thing on my walk-around of the aircraft for this mission as I do on any other mission.

And these members will get their chance to battle the blazes. California will ask them to begin saving its precious landscape the moment they land. And having a keen mind and awareness will ensure this crew gets the job done.