SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras –
Firefighters from the 612th Air Base Squadron prepared to host 35 firefighters from the seven Central American nations, for the upcoming event Central America Sharing Mutual Operational Knowledge and Experiences at Soto Cano Air Base from April 18 - 22, 2016.
Better known as CENTAM SMOKE, the exercise challenges firefighters' techniques, procedures and safety tactics, and gives Airmen the opportunity to share their skills and knowledge as they lead the instruction during the training.
As part of the pre-exercise preparation, 17 U.S. Air Force firefighters from the 612th ABS participated in a week-long Air Advisor course taught by three instructors from the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center.
The course, taught at the 612th ABS Fire Department, is an intensive 35-hour program, designed to introduce or improve students' knowledge and capabilities to successfully execute their mission in a multi-cultural, multi-national environment.
The instructors, Mr. Greg Kruse, Mr. Dave Enriquez, and Mr. Joe Allred, taught diverse lessons including Mesoamerican Religions, Foreign Disclosure, Cross Cultural Communications & Negotiations, and Public Affairs, and encouraged students to keep an open mind and actively participate in the course from beginning to end.
All students will apply their lessons during the upcoming CENTAM SMOKE exercise, and most importantly, each firefighter knows he or she is an ambassador representing the United States.