Local nationals make up almost half of KMC fire department

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Scott Saldukas
  • 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Fifty one point two percent seems like a shooting statistic or a percentage of a project that is complete. 

The 51.2 percent actually represents the amount of local nationals that work side-by-side with firefighters who are servicemembers from around the KMC. 

While having eight fire stations spread throughout the KMC, the firefighters don't have an easy job to say the least. Having to work 24-hour shifts, the firefighters are still required to cover an area roughly the size of Rhode Island which consists of 13 cities and towns, said Master Sgt. Jarvis V. Amos, Deputy Fire Chief of the KMC Fire and Emergency Services. 

Working hand-in-hand every day with each other gives the firefighters a different perspective on how the same job is done. 

The KMC fire department has 248 firefighters spread out around the KMC, 127 of which are local nationals, which makes up for a very knowledgeable and strong force. 

"I think working with each other helps both parties out a lot, especially with our different forms of training," said Sergeant Amos. 

People as a whole have different ways of doing things, but as U.S. firefighters and German firefighters we do it a little different, said Sergeant Amos. "U.S. (fire)fighters have a more physical type and Germans have a more literal type of training, and when you put muscle and knowledge together you almost get an unstoppable force. We help them with our more physical type of training, and they help us with the education and that makes the work place relaxed and enjoyable," he said. 

While working together, the firefighters have the chance to experience another culture without leaving work. 

Firefighters love to eat, and there is always a grill going at the fire department, said Sergeant Amos. "Dealing with the different cultures, cooking and eating different food always brings real firefighters together," he said. "The language barrier is a plus on the culture side of the house. Working with local nationals helps us learn their language quicker than other jobs because we hear it constantly every day and it works both ways." 

Having such a versatile group of firefighters is a tremendous asset to the KMC. Having the flexibility for local nationals to work with American servicemembers and vice versa shows how strong the force can ultimately be. 

"Cooking and learning little everyday tasks from each other displays our dedication to completing the mission," said Sergeant Amos.