Oct. 24, 2007

AFNORTH deploying personnel, aircraft for California wildfires

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Air Forces Northern is overseeing the deployment of six C-130 aircraft capable of transporting and employing the Military Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), along with appropriate command and control and support personnel to support and assist emergency response efforts in Southern California.MAFFS is an emergency

Oct. 23, 2007

USNORTHCOM commander outlines California wildfire response

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The commander of U.S. Northern Command said today that lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina are helping the command and its interagency partners efficiently and effectively support current wildfire response efforts in California. Gen. Gene Renuart briefed reporters this afternoon at USNORTHCOM headquarters on the

Oct. 18, 2006

New Army command supports USNORTHCOM mission

The Army’s newest service component command has a dedicated mission that mirrors and supports the mission of U.S. Northern Command: defending the homeland and supporting civil authorities during times of crisis.U.S. Army North achieved full operational capability Oct. 16 following a year of intense planning, manning, equipping and training.“We have

Sept. 2, 2006

Firefighting mission ends for Army’s Task Force Blaze

Task Force Blaze will return home Sunday afternoon to Fort Lewis, Wash., following a three-week deployment to fight wildfires in North Central Washington.The military worked side-by-side with civilian firefighters since mid August, filling a crucial need for ground crews. The last time a military battalion was used to fight wildfires was in 2003 in

Aug. 30, 2006

Soldiers Battle Wildfires

PFC Luke Schneider of the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, is one of 550 Soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., helping civilian firefighters fight blazes in Washington state. SPC Abel TrevinoSoldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., are helping protect nearly 500 homes and other structures in Washington state as the Cedar Creek Fire burns near the town of

Aug. 29, 2006

From Falluja to forest fires: AAFES goes where the troops go

DALLAS – True to its motto, “We go where you go,” the Army and Air Force Exchange Service has mobilized its next-generation Tactical Field Exchange (TFE) in support of some 550 active-duty Soldiers helping control wildfires burning across Washington’s Okanogan and Wenatchee national forests. “AAFES has pulled off another superb operation in record

Aug. 24, 2006

U.S. Army North supports wildfire fighting efforts

When all the nation’s wildland firefighting ground crews have been committed, the National Interagency Fire Center turns to the military.This year, the Army got the call, and U.S. Army North deployed a small element of personnel to NIFC in Boise, Idaho, to help manage military ground support. The mission of the command’s Defense Coordinating

Aug. 24, 2006

Agriculture secretary thanks firefighting Soldiers

BOISE, Idaho – Soldiers battling the 125,000 acre fire near Winthrop, Wash., received recognition Aug. 22 from Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.The secretary praised the efforts of Task Force Blaze, a 550-Soldier battalion from Fort Lewis, Wash., that has been fighting the fire since Aug. 17. “I just want to say to the Soldiers how much we

Aug. 19, 2006

Soldiers put fire training into action

Soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., assigned to Task Force Blaze put their wildland firefighting training into action for the first time Aug. 19 by taking on the wildfires burning in the state of Washington.Following three days of classroom and field instruction from experienced wildland firefighters, the Soldiers were ready to face the flames.“Guys

March 29, 2006

C-130s answer firefighting call at Kirtland Air Force Base

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- During wildfires, ranchers fearing for their livestock and people fearing for their homes probably don’t realize the massive effort and the number of people supporting the military aircraft that drop liquid salvation from the sky. But cooperation between military members and civilians can save acres and lives when

Nov. 6, 2005

USNORTHCOM remains focused on homeland defense

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Although Mother Nature has captured the headlines since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast Aug. 29, the U.S. military command coordinating the Department of Defense relief effort has not lost sight of its primary mission of defending the homeland. “As we act to support civil authorities in responding to

March 30, 2004

Standing Joint Force Headquarters-HLS Accomplishments Recognized

NORFOLK, Va. (March 26, 2004) – In a recognition ceremony held here today at the Joint Forces Staff College, Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland Security (SJFHQ-HLS), a component command of United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and Global War on Terrorism Medal for their accomplishments and