Forged by fire: 86th CES firefighters train for the call

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Forged by fire: 86th CES firefighters train for the call

RHEINLAND-PFALZ, GERMANY

08.10.2026

Story by Airman 1st Class Joseph Curzi 

86th Airlift Wing

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Long before the emergency lights flash and trucks roll out of the station, the work has already begun

At the 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Emergency Services flight, firefighters spendcountless hours sharpening the physical skills, technical knowledge and teamwork needed torespond at a moment’s notice

Firefighters tested their physical capabilities through a series of firefighter-specific challengesdesigned to mirror the demands of real-world emergencies. The exercises included donning gear in under 60 seconds, advancing charged hose lines, dragging weighted equipment and completing strength and endurance drills that simulate the conditions firefighters face on emergency scenes

For Staff Sgt. Brycen Hand, 86th CES Fire and Emergency Services flight station chief, physical fitness is a crucial piece of what makes an effective warfighter and firefighter

“The job demands that we’re physically prepared because we never know what the next call will require.” Hand said

Unlike many careers, firefighters remain on call around the clock responding to emergencies

“We respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Hand said. “We meet people on some of the worst days of their lives, so we have to stay ready and remain professional every single time.”

That readiness is developed through continuous training, starting the moment a firefighter arrives at their first duty station

“As a firefighter, you’re always learning,” said Airman 1st Class Jesus Licon, 86th CES Fire and Emergency Services flight firefighter. “There’s never a moment where you’re not learning, and there’s never a moment where you know it all.”

While the public often associates firefighters with fighting fires, the career field encompassesmuch more

“We don’t just put out fires all day,” Hand said. “We’re responsible for emergency medical services, hazardous material response and supporting the installation in many different ways.”

That broad mission requires trust and accountability among every member of the team and for Licon, the potential consequence of being ill-equipped for an emergency situation pushes him to train harder

“We take a lot of pride in the fact that people are relying on us. We train like someone’s life depends on it, because it does.” Licon said. “We always hope no one needs our services, but when that moment comes, we’re prepared and ready to respond to whatever happens.”

Whether responding to an aircraft emergency, a medical call or a structural fire, every workout,every training scenario and every lesson reinforces the same mission: serving the KaiserslauternMilitary Community with professionalism, readiness and unwavering commitment

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