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Post by jarhead32 on Nov 17, 2007 16:24:08 GMT -5
Fellow Former & Retired Marines-What will the state & status of Marine Aviation,in 2032? Many of us will have gone on? We former Crash Crew & Rescue Personnel ought to have a say? An article should appear in the Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) publications,like 'Yellow Book'. Remember, all the 'Emergencies & Crashes you each attended. My guess we would be talking about the F/A-18 series & the F-35 version for the Marines? Next ,we need to address-Rotary wing aircraft-The M & CV22-'Osprey,to replace all the 'Helios'. Something besides that is needed? The CH-46 ,CH-53 & UH-60series will also be gone ;as it is phased out? This Crazy Old Man will start trying to do something? But,he does know one needs a sponsor in 'Naval Air Systems Command';now located in Dc & out at 'Pax River.-RichW/43
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Post by jarhead32 on Dec 13, 2007 14:00:47 GMT -5
All-What will Aviation Crash Fire Fighting be down stream-25years from now? Stretch,you are actively in the field-as I guess others are? Do you folks have any ideas or have you not thought about it? Think of the Technology? A New Truck will it be the majority'Robotics' & a Hybrid Computer; plus 3-Fireman? Trucks will be controlled Electronically from the 'Station'? Don't forget a Camera & Hi-Res.TV;or some other controls? Yeah, I know I won't be around to see it,but think if AFFR could have input into what might come? We have the right to voice our thinking & opinion on this,to someone be it the USMC,Navair & Vehicle Manufacturer? We will also need to talk to the other services too? What do you think? -RichW/43
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Post by Stretch on Dec 13, 2007 14:26:22 GMT -5
We have one of these at our airport: This thing is friggin' huge, dwarfing a USMC P-19. The tires are well over five feet tall. www.rosenbaueramerica.com/Apparatus/ARFF/SixWheeledPanther/Index.cfmScads of electronics on the thing... cameras, night vision, heat and toxic atmosphere sensors... As far as robotics... probably never. There's no substitute for a man who can reason and make decisions. Remote-controlled vehicles? Also doubtful. The inherent risk to Crash Crewman isn't high enough to warrant the expense. It's not like we're defusing bombs. There is absolutely no talk whatsoever about replacing firemen with machines. We'll still be out there... better equipped, better dressed, more highly trained and with more capabilities.
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Post by mikeyb on Dec 13, 2007 20:23:16 GMT -5
Guys, I was a DOD firefighter for 29 1/2 years at Wright Patterson AFB and I watched us go from 150 man department to 110. We kept 4 men on a crash truck and had 6 in operation. By the end of my career we were down to 3 on a truck that was 3 trucks total 2-P-23 and a TI-3000. Now the Air Force is down to 2 on a truck and cross manning from the ladder or Engine co. They may not get rid of all firefighters but a lot of civilian airports and the Air Force are cutting there Crash firefighting back to the minimum. If you look at alot of your Airports (example, Port Columbus,oh, Dayton International runs one person on a piece of equipment and draws from other respondoning forces. If you don't believe me check it out? The Marine Corps can provide more because crash is handled by the military and structual by civilians but not everyone has that luxury. I always try to find out what type of protection the airports I fly into have for my own information
Semper Fi
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Post by jarhead32 on Dec 14, 2007 12:06:18 GMT -5
MikeB- Wrote on one of his pieces;how the Crash Crew ,he worked for almost 30 years changed in personnel & equipment numbers over the years-as far as manning & support coming from nearby structural fire fighting assets? He as well as others ,have had actual experience in 'Changes'. Some portion of you went into 'Civilian Fire Fighting', after your time in the 'Corps'? Guys/Gals what will the business be in those 25 years?-RichW/43
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Post by mikeyb on Dec 14, 2007 13:22:26 GMT -5
I don't think anyone has a clue as to what the future of Marine Aviation and crash fire fighting? I believe the Marine Corp will continue to maintain the safety of airfield operations, but the other branchs will continue to out source and work with less. The Army has about 300 military firefighters/other fields. I have talked to guys that are specal forces,armorers and infantry and their job was to set up for operations in a combat zone. When stateside they work with their civilian counter parts. Like it or not it is a do more with less government? I have seen it, Why do you think they use contractors to provide fire protection in combat zones?
Semper Fi
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Post by jarhead32 on Dec 14, 2007 15:49:08 GMT -5
MikeyB- What you are saying ,makes sense! Besides,you are closer to the actual practise than most of us are? True any future is a wild guess? I guess the unified schooling & training will stay at Goodfellow AFB,TX? No matter the differences in Navy/Marine Aviation? Thanks for the discussion.-RichW/43
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Post by joed47 on Dec 14, 2007 20:58:45 GMT -5
If we could read the future we would be raving idots. Let's just enjoy now. Your opions are great but depresing so lets just celebrate living and loving. The Marines was my life for 20 plus years and I have love for you that will never be understood by people that were never in the nuts. Semper Fi and lighten up. SEMPER FI JoeD.
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Post by Stretch on Dec 15, 2007 9:54:04 GMT -5
Some of us are still on the job, Joe. We can't afford to stick our heads in the sand and hope everything will go our way. We have to try to see what's coming and be proactive.
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Post by mikeyb on Dec 15, 2007 12:02:52 GMT -5
Joe, It's not that I am worried about the future of Aviation Firefighting, but if I can answer a question or have a discussion about something I will . My problem is that someday and this has been discussed in Washington is to have a joint military force and there won't be a Marine Corp,Army,Navy or Air Force it will all be one and then how will it feel to be a part of an Organization that no longer exist and our childern and grandchildern won't be able to follow in our footsteps if they wish. I loved my time in the Corp and and my served and I have a 5 year old Grandson that wants to follow in his popo's and dads foot steps. So I look at the future and realize things are changing. But this is only an opinion and opinions are like @$$holes every body has one.
Semper Fi
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Post by jarhead32 on Dec 15, 2007 12:05:09 GMT -5
MikeyB & Stretch-Thank you both for your viewpoints on the future of 'Crash Fire Fighting'? As an 'Old Timer',sometimes it is hard to leap forward? Remember, I need to catch up? Question: How could one get to see what goes on at 'Fire training,et.al.,at Goodfellow AFB,TX.? Yeah, I know write someone & I am not ;retired from the 'Corps'? I was under a 'Temp. Medical',until 28 Feb.1958?? I did have an ID when I worked for DOD/DLA/DCMC out there in Calli-fornia all those years. I'm going back out to Ventura County,California right after the first of the new year? Will see & talk to some of those I worked with? I believe there is a mix of military & civilian personnel at the 'Combo'-NAS,Point Mugu & USAir Guard Facility,Channel Islands,CA. They both use the same runway,each have their own taxiways? Previously,there was anMAD,at Mugu-which was a 'Reserve 'outfit . Will have to check & see how things are today,out there?-RichW/43
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Post by jarhead32 on Dec 15, 2007 12:30:10 GMT -5
JoeD/47- Hey, I sure didn;t put;'Marine Aviation-25years from now? & then throw in 'What will'Crash Fire Fighting be like';out there to cause trouble? I was trying to get opinions? If I offended you;then I apologize to you- however,I honestly put that out to see what kind of responses it would bring? Both Stretch & MikeyB have given opinions & information on the subject & I greatly appreciate it.Thanks.-RichW/43
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Post by joed47 on Dec 16, 2007 7:19:19 GMT -5
Hey guys I sure didn't mean to ruffle so many feathers. I wasn't talking about the future of firefighting and I'm glad some of you are still on the job. Eric I sure don't have my head in the sand if that's what you meant. I try to support every veterans org. I can. Like the man said everyone has an opinion. Have a great Christmas and Semper Fi to all. JoeD.
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Post by Stretch on Dec 16, 2007 15:07:17 GMT -5
No, I didn't mean that.
There are some folks on the job that just show up day after day, hoping they don't have to go out and do anything.
Others of us study and learn, trying to stay ahead of the 8 ball. Relaxing is good if you can, but complacency kills. It might be depressing to think about the future, but it's a lot better than regret after the fact.
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Post by joed47 on Dec 16, 2007 18:01:34 GMT -5
Thank you for being on the job and learning everything you can to perform your job. I have respect for you and all the others who still put your lives in harms way for us. Semper Fi JoeD.
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