Tech Orders,

File: aacep_31.txt
Page: 31
Total Pages: 59
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      zipper garment bags to tent occupants to limit the amount of dust
      on clothing. Translent quarters remained an important Services
      function. Distinguished visitor quarters were established at bases
      to house the various dignltarles and high ranking offlelals who
      began touring the sites. Billeting personnel acquired computers
      that aided them in malntainlng their records and developing
      billeting plans for additional personnel.
      Laundry continued to be an area of concern for many sites. As
      engineers struggled to keep TFLs operating in the harsh
      environment, Services personnel remained frustrated with the
      Unrellabllity of the equipment and searched for alternatives.
      Contract laundry service was used wherever feasible. At Mas1rah
      AB, personnel acquired home style washers and dryers and set up a
      laundry tent for the troops to do their personal laundry. This not
      only reduced the demands on the IFL, but also became a place to
      socialize or read a book. Services personnel at Thumrait tested a
      new laundry system, the uNIMAC, with good results. This was a more
      reliable' more water efflelent' commercial system.
     
      Fire Protect10n.
     
      Air Force firefighters provided crash/rescue and structural
      fire protection services to all Air Force sites in the region.
      Upon deployment to a bare base' firefighters established a fire
      protection capability by assembling vehicles' equipment' and
      firefighting agent (halon' dry chemical' and aqueous film-forming
      foam]; assessed the fire protection requirements of the site;
      evaluated the host nation capabilities; assisted engineers in
      planning site layout; and remain ready in case of an emergency
      ltuation.
      The number of firefighters deployed to a specific location was
      based on the type and number of aircraft at the base'
      infrastructure available, and host nation capabilities. The size
      of the Air Force fire departments varied from one firefighter
      acting as a liaison with the host nation fire department at King
      Khalid international Airport to eighty-four firefighters at King
      Fahd' operating from three separate stations. Firefighters were
      freguently moved from base to base in theater. Most SEA bases had
      composite teams of firefighters from three or four home stations"
      Because of the frequent movement of personnel' individual bases
      experienced several changes in leadership. This sometimes led to
      a lack of confidence in the fire chief. Air Force firefighters
      served under civilian supervisors at their home station' so most
      deployed fire chiefs had little experience leading a department at
      a- busy deployed location e Also' most of the deployed site
      engineers bad little or no experience with fire protection
      operations nor had ever been to the Fire Marshall~s course at Air
      Force Institute of Technology. They generally deferred to CENTAF
      or the base fire chief for guidance on fire protection lssues.n
      Flreflghters usually deployed with their home station Prlme
      BEEF team, however' the flreflghters were not as prepared as the