The Department of War Firefighter Rescue and Survival School recently held a five-day, 50-hour hands-on training program at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The program aims to develop resilient and combat-ready first responders through intensive training exercises.
The training utilizes a crawl-walk-run framework where military and civilian first responders spend approximately 90% of their time in full personal protective equipment. Exercises include self-rescue, emergency bailouts, and extractions of trapped partners. These drills are intended to build the muscle memory and warrior ethos required for survival when outside help is unavailable.
During the training, participants engaged in various drills, such as performing CPR on simulated downed firefighters, using infrared cameras, and conducting ladder rescues. Instructors observed techniques including downed firefighter lifting on stairs and searching through smoke and darkness.
Firefighters who meet all objectives in the demanding program earn a No Slack patch and entry into the Instructor On-The-Job Training Program. This program allows graduates to work alongside seasoned mentors to refine their expertise and prepare to build resilient teams at their home stations.
