RAF Mildenhall Fire Dept 'Rookie Academy' slashes training program from 4 months to 3 week

U.S. Air Force Airman Corban La Quey, left, and Airman Jeniel DeJesus, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department firefighter rookies, practice fire hose techniques as part of their “Rookie Academy” training at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Aug. 28, 2024. The Rookie Academy is an intense training program designed by Staff Sgt. Connor Nance, 100th CES Fire Department assistant chief of training, and taught by multiple experienced firefighters. It condenses four months of training for new firefighters into three weeks, ensuring they all learn the same way, so they receive a high-quality level of training while maintaining that consistency of training across the board. This in turn gives the rookies a head-start on completing their career-based training, putting them ahead of their peers at other bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)