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Equipment allows firefighters to share resources with border patrol

  • Published
  • By Susan Griggs
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The new self-contained breathing apparatus for Keesler's fire emergency services team created an opportunity for Keesler to support a Department of Homeland Security agency. 

When the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency purchased new SCBA equipment for all Air Force fire emergency services flights this year, Keesler searched to find an agency that could benefit from the equipment that was being replaced. 

Instead of turning in more than $200,000 worth of usable SCBAs to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, Keesler was able to transfer its replaced assets to the U.S. Border Patrol to enhance the safety of its personnel. 

J.D. Donnett, Keesler's fire emergency services chief, worked with AFCESA, Air Force Reserve Command, Air Education and Training Command and customs/border patrol officials to make the transfer possible. 

"Our team worked with the 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron preparing transfer paperwork," Chief Donnett said. "We worked hard to prepare property inventory records, along with maintenance and test data, to get the units ready for pickup by DHS." 

He credited Deputy Fire Chief Gary Pierson, John McIntyre, David Cleland, Daniel Fish, David Tijerina and the 81st LRS logistics staff from CSC for working on the equipment transfer. 

Aug. 12, most of the equipment was transferred to a DHS team from Texas. The last 12 of the older units being retained for use on deployments will be turned over next year as Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom are fully online with the newer SCBAs.
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