|
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, Japan - Red lights flash and
water jets out of a mounted water turret, to the delight of a group
of children, who crowd around a stationary fire truck on a flight
line. They peer up through the windows to get a closer look at the
demonstration of its tools and components. Marines don safety
equipment and jump into the truck, water turret blasting, as the
children cheer and count down the Marines' time.
Marines
with aircraft rescue and fire fighting demonstrated the safe use of
equipment for students of E.C. Killin Elementary School, Camp
Foster, Okinawa during a tour of the ARFF Station May 8 on Marine
Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan.
|
Marines pose for a picture with students from E.C. Killin Elementary School, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, during a tour of the aircraft rescue and fire fighting station, May 8, 2015 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The Marines are rescuemen with ARFF, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Futenma. The tour was a part of a visit to the flight line on MCAS Futenma that provided students with the understanding of the ARFF Marines' responsibilities and the opportunity to explore various career paths. During the visit, ARFF Marines demonstrated the use of hand lines, also known as fire hoses; mounted water turrets; and the proper use of various personal protective equipment, such as gas masks, helmets with face shields, proximity equipment and footwear. After the demonstrations, the Marines taught the students how to properly wear the protective equipment and operate hand lines. The tour provided children with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in various career fields to enhance classroom learning. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Janessa Pon)
|
Many children view the military as a purely
combat-oriented job and are not aware of the many roles
service members fill, according to Sgt. Timothy J.
Olson-Costello, a section chief with ARFF, Headquarters and
Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Futenma.
The tour
provided a hands-on, action-oriented demonstration of one of
the many career fields that can be pursued either as a
service member or civilian.
“It gives the kids a
chance to get out of the classroom and see what we actually
do,” said Olson-Costello, a Palmdale, California, native.
“We are giving them a little of our time for a big
investment in their future.”
The ARFF Marines showed
the students how to use hand lines, also known as fire
hoses, mounted water turrets and the proper use of various
personal protective equipment, such as gas masks, helmets
with face shields and proximity equipment.
The tour
supplemented the Department of Defense school system's
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mechanics Program. The
program was founded in response to a study in 2013 by the
National Research Council which concluded that the modern
work force is lacking in STEM career fields.
The DOD
school system has implemented the Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mechanics Program to educate children on
career opportunities within STEM career fields, according to
Jennifer S. Potter, a volunteer with E.C. Killin Elementary
School.
“It's good for (the children) to see what
they can aspire to be someday,” said Potter, a Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, native. “We are trying to inspire children to
pursue these (careers).”
After the demonstrations,
the students had the opportunity to explore the fire truck,
and wear the fire fighting equipment. They were able to see
the fire hoses in action, and practice their fire
extinguishing techniques on imaginary fires.
At the
end of the tour, the students gathered in front of the fire
truck and posed for photos with the ARFF Marines wearing
their fire safety equipment.
“The (ARFF Marines) are
a great inspiration for the children and they are so
excited,” said Potter. “They're great role models for the
children ... taking the time to spend the day with them means
everything. It's going to be a day that they remember for
the rest of their lives.”
The ARFF Marines waved as
the beaming students lined up behind the volunteers and left
the station.
“It's really good to give back to these
kids, because they look up to us,” said Lance Cpl. Jacob A.
Clark, an ARFF Marine and a Newport, Rhode Island, native.
“They are the ones whose career decisions have the biggest
impact on the future.”
By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Janessa Pon
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
The U.S. Marines
|
Comment on this article |
