Air Force firefighters instructed their Honduran counterparts on firefighting procedures earlier this month during the Central America Sharing Mutual Operational Knowledge and Experiences exercise at Soto Cano AB, Honduras. Centam Smoke is a quarterly event that brings USAF airmen together with firefighters across Central America for several days of sharing knowledge and team-building training. During this iteration, Air Force firefighting personnel taught their Honduran hosts procedures for putting out vehicle, aircraft, and structural fires, according to an Air Force release on May 24. This event is one of Air Forces Southern’s outreach activities to help build the capacity of partner air forces in Central and South America. (Soto Cano photo caption by SSgt. Bryan Franks)
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.