Dover Air Force Base -- Since August 2016, Senior Airman John Jaburg, firefighter with the 512th Civil Engineer Squadron, has been getting regular hands-on experience working alongside his active-duty counterparts at the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department during his seasoning training at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
“There are so many nuances to learning the job of an Air Force firefighter,” Jaburg said between sips of coffee while sitting in the break room of Dover AFB’s fire station. “Becoming proficient as a firefighter means you have to work at it on a daily basis.”
Air Force Reserve Command’s Seasoning Training Program is designed to build a ready force by accelerating upgrade training of newly enlisted and officer reserve members. If the training capability exists and if the funds are available, an enlisted member may voluntarily go on active duty for training orders to work towards completing their 5-skill level training in the member’s respective career field.
“We’ve welcomed Senior Airman Jaburg as another brother here,” said Staff Sgt. Julio Madera, 436th CES NCO in charge of fire safety. “We greatly value the contributions of reservists who bring their experiences from their civilian lives.”
Jaburg’s full-time training coincides with Team Dover’s Old Fashioned Family Picnic, a free event sponsored by a local community service organization, that marked the end of Fire Prevention Week.
Fire Prevention Week is a time set aside for active-duty firefighters from the 436th CES to promote fire prevention awareness within the Dover military and civilian communities by visiting local schools and conducting tours at the base’s firehouse. According to the National Archives and Records Administration’s Library Information Center, it is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.
At the picnic, Jaburg familiarized attendees with the tools he uses as an Air Force firefighter and also shared tips for fire safety at home and in base dorms.
After he finishes seasoning training with the 436th CES, Jaburg said he’d like to use his skills in fire attack and suppression that he acquired as a reservist into a civilian volunteer firefighter position back home in Maryland. An example of a skill acquired during training is being able to operate complex machinery used to fight fires, like firefighting vehicles.
“My upgrade training will last until this January,” said Jaburg. “During this time, I’ll be getting licensed to drive and operate our engine, P-23 crash trucks and the mobile water supply vehicle.”
Jaburg added the firefighter job is a good fit for him and provides him an opportunity to give back to others.
“Becoming a firefighter made a lot of sense because I like working in a team setting with my hands,” said Jaburg. “I joined the Reserve because public service is important to me, and being a firefighter is a great way to interact with the local community.”