Team Rubicon Brings Veteran Firepower

Last month, the BLM partnered with DOI and Team Rubicon to conduct wildland firefighter training for veterans at the Victor Valley College Regional Public Safety Training Center in Apple Valley, Calif.

Over 50 Team Rubicon students participated in the January 22-25 training, receiving instruction in wildland fire suppression tactics including communication techniques, fireline construction, equipment operation, and other critical skills.

Patrolling/communications hikes are used to instill a visual and communication dialogue that enhances teamwork.

"We have over 50 students here getting hands-on training on utilizing fire suppression tools along with fire shelter training," said Phil Lind, Boise BLM Smoke Jumper Training Manager. "They are learning what to expect when they get out into a wildfire incident."

By engaging veterans in disaster response, Team Rubicon seeks to provide veterans with a sense of purpose, community, and identity often missing following their military service.

"After my military service I was looking for a way of giving back," stated Patrick Mishler, Navy veteran. "It's always good to learn something new, another skill, and I hope to deploy soon."

Marine veteran Anthony Lewis works for a school district so he sees himself as a seasonal call up. "From here I will go up north for wilderness first aid training and then wait for summer and hope the phone rings."

Team Rubicon students undergo fire shelter inspection from Phil Lind, BLM Smoke Jumper Training Manager.

According to Lind, Rookie School students will leave with a Red Card qualified as a Firefighter Type 2. That means they can operate on a Type 2 hand crew as well as respond to wildland fires. The Advanced Fire Training Students will leave with a Firefighter Type 1 Position Passbook. This allows them to begin their on-the-job training and work toward their Firefighter Type 1 classification. (For more information on Firefighter classifications see http://training.nwcg.gov/sect_position_advancement.htm.)

Team Rubicon students learn proper hand tool/line digging techniques.

Several Marines founded Team Rubicon in response to the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake. Since then the organization has responded to floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other severe weather damage, helping disaster survivors all over the globe.

For more information on Team Rubicon see http://www.teamrubiconusa.org. For information about BLM and its partnership with Team Rubicon, contact Jessica Gardetto 208-387-5458 or jdgardetto@blm.gov.

Story and photos by Steve Razo, Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist, BLM California.

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Taken from the BLM Daily (internal BLM website), February 8, 2015.