ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE KORAT, Thailand -- The Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 Crash, Fire, and Rescue unit bridged language and cultural boundaries Oct. 22 to teach their counterparts from the Royal Thai Air Force Base here F/A-18 disarmament and securing procedures.
The Marines enjoyed a newfound brotherhood as they demonstrated specific safety checks and went through simulated disarmament drills for the fighter jet.
“There’s an unspoken trust between firefighter’s that language can’t deteriorate,” said Cpl. Jozef F. Senna III.
Senna led the training using a wide array of hand signals for the benefit of his Thai-speaking audience.
“The concept of it is pretty universal,” he said. “It’s similar to the F/15s and F/5s that they work on here.”
The airmen had the chance to practice disarmament procedures such as pinning, securing chaffs and flares, and checking hot brakes.
“We showed them all the basic things they’ll be doing since they’ll eventually be getting (F/A-18s),” said Lance Cpl. Lewis Parker Meza. “The more they know about them the safer it will be when they actually get here.”
Meza said he appreciated the enthusiasm the airmen expressed.
“I know if I had the chance to work on a new bird, I’d be pretty excited about it too,” he said. “Firefighters are a really tight group. They’re really accepting of us here and we’ve been connecting with them a lot.”
“It’s great knowing that someone else in a completely different part of the world has the same job as you and are able to relate to you through that,” said Pfc. Brad A. Hunt.
The importance of strong relationships remains critical as U.S. military aircraft continue to land at RTAF.
“RTAF is a mutual base,” said Meza. “American military aircraft come here a lot. These guys need to know what to do in the event (of an American aircraft landing). They need to know how to properly handle an emergency, and we’re the only ones who really come here and work with them hand in hand.”
It’s a unique position that gives these Marines both a memorable experience and an important responsibility.
“It’s really an experience of a lifetime,” SAID Senna.