CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan – At 1:30 p.m. on March 8, directors, fire chiefs, and instructors situated themselves in front of the training compound at the Naha City Fire Department. A local news outlet was off to the side preparing their equipment in preparation. Family members and children filed in and stood outside the perimeter of the training area.

Two large apartment-like towers, worn down and discolored from years of training, stood in front of the viewing area. Each tower shot up several floors and were connected through balconies resembling a castle front. Yelling could be heard off in the distance as viewers turned toward the sound of commotion. Passersby commuting to and from their workplaces briefly stopped to glance at what was happening.

Six young firefighters dressed in denim blue with white helmets bolted around the corner to salute and report to overseeing director. These six firefighters prepared to showcase two different rescue situations to graduate Naha City Fire Department’s Rescue Squad Training.

The director cut his salute and the team of firefighters scurried to their respective positions to issue orders before starting their first demonstration. One firefighter stood out, initially because he wore different markings, his uniform a deeper shade of blue, and his helmet reflecting a bright orange. He held viewers’ attention with an intensity that led his team through the first demonstration.

As he reported in, Sogen Taira, a firefighter with Engine 1-1, Foster Company, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, set an intense precedent for the rest of that bright and sunny day.

“This is what I’ve wanted to do, and I was drawn to the job of saving people, and I try to approach everything proactively with full force every day,” said Taira. “There are moments where I don’t get thanked often, but receiving appreciation as a firefighter is something special.”

Taira was born and raised in Uruma City, Okinawa, Japan, and was always known since his elementary days for his loud voice. As the second youngest firefighter in all of MCIPAC F&ES’s Okinawa branch, Taira was recruited in August of 2023 and is a part of the fire station’s most recent addition to the team. As one of the most junior firefighters at the station, his current duty while attached to Engine 1-1 is fire suppression.

“He has a bright personality, is very active, and can carry out whatever he is instructed to do by his supervisors,” said Yasutaka Hanashiro, Taira’s direct supervisor and fire captain of Engine 1-1, Foster Co, MCIPAC F&ES. “He has a positive influence on other young firefighters and can now use his skills and experiences gained from Rescue Squad Training to motivate them and improve their skills.”

Rescue Squad Training is an intense and rigorous two-week course where firefighters learn and demonstrate rescues from high-angles, confined spaces, and fires, emergency medical services, vehicle extrications, and hazardous materials containment. Throughout the course, firefighters also demonstrated their physicality through doing various bodyweight exercises, stair climbs, and carrying two victim dummies weighing 100kg (220lbs) and 60kg (132lbs).

Naha City Fire Department began implementing this training internally eight years ago, with one iteration of the course each year. According to one of the instructors of the course, Taira’s team produced something special that they haven’t seen in the last eight years. His team was commended for their communication, volume, teamwork, and execution.

“During the course, our instructors told us that we need to keep our composure when making rescues,” said Taira. “We were instructed to avoid being stern and remaining silent while attending to victims to prevent more anxiety during stressful situations.”

All six firefighters carried out each step of the demonstrations meticulously. While still maintaining extreme focus, voices from each firefighter boomed throughout the compound amidst the silence from observers.

During training or while on the job, Taira utilizes his voice to the maximum volume. However, when speaking casually, one might notice his bright, friendly and reserved demeanor.

“He’s an intelligent firefighter who’s also very polite and honest,” said Hanashiro. “So far, he only has less than a year of experience. Once he gets more experience, I believe he’ll be able to influence the organization and lead to an improvement of everyone else’s skills.

Hanashiro said he sees Taira stepping into positions with more tasks and responsibilities like fire truck driver, acting fire captain, or an emergency medical technician. He praised Taira’s ability to be able to take on these positions, as each of these jobs requires additional certifications and training just like Rescue Squad Training.

Once Taira and his team completed the demonstration successfully, they paused the training tempo to prepare for their graduation. All adrenaline had ceased, and each firefighter stood in front of the deputy director of the Naha City Fire Department to receive their certificates.

After the ceremony and formalities ended, everyone in the room quickly shifted their seats from organized rows to a cluster in the front of the room. The lights clicked off and a projector snapped on screen.

A short video played in front of all the firefighters and attendees flashing different moments throughout the entirety of the two-week course. When the lights flipped back on, several members of the team had tears streaming down their faces. Each member congratulated each other and shook hands with chiefs, directors, instructors, and families who attended the event.

Wiping away tears, the team stood in front of local news reporters to express their joy and detail their experiences. The cameraman put down his camera after they shared their thoughts, signaling the completion of the course. Taira became the first firefighter from MCIPAC F&ES to complete a joint training hosted by the Naha City Fire Department, the largest fire department in all of Okinawa.