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THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN GO WRONG ON A FLIGHT LINE. CRASHES, FUEL SPILLS AND INJURIES TO
NAME A FEW. THE FIRE FIGHTERS AT ATSUGI NAVAL AIR FACILITY KNOW THE DANGERS AND TRAIN HARD
TO STAY READY TO RESPOND. THEIR DEDICATION AND WORK ETHIC IMPRESSED THE US NAVY, SO MUCH
SO, THAT THEY WERE RECENTLY NAMED MEDIUM FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR.
"CNRJ HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL DEPARTMENT BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT
NAF ATSUGI CAME IN AS A MEDIUM FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ACTUALLY WON THIS."
TO BE CONSIDERED A MEDIUM FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE STATION HAS TO HAVE BETWEEN TWO AND SEVEN
TRUCKS. ATSUGI HAS 6, AND OVER 50 JAPANESE FIRE FIGHTERS TO MAN THEM. CHIEF GONZALES
SAYS THEY'RE WHAT MAKE THE STATION SO SUCCESSFUL.
"IT'S AN EXTREME PLEASURE WORKING WITH THEM BECAUSE YOU GIVE THEM A TASK AND THEY 99.9%
OF THE TIME COME BACK WITH SOMETHING THAT BLOWS THE REQUIREMENTS OUT. SO IT'S A PRIDE
TYPE THING AND THEY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN PROVIDING A GREAT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY."
DISTRICT CHIEF MICHIAIKO SUZUKI IS MODEST ABOUT THEIR SUCCESS, BUT PROUD OF HIS MEN.
"I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO OUR FIRE FIGHTERS AND ATSUGI PERSONNEL
FOR WINNING THIS AWARD. WE HAVE MANY PROPERTIES TO PROTECT, SO WE ALWAYS TALK TO OUR MEN TO
IMPROVE OUR SKILLS AND DO OUR BEST."
WINNERS OF THE NAVY-WIDE PROGRAM MOVE ON TO COMPETE DOD WIDE IN AUGUST. PETTY OFFICER
BRANDON SHELANDER, NAF ATSUGI, JAPAN.