FIREFIGHTING BOOT CAMP PICTURES 2007
Please see: 2008 PHOTOS — 2006 PHOTOS — MOVIES — DETAILED INFORMATION
DAY NINETEEN: Wildland academy fire-fighting students, the "Smokin Jokers," march in military formation with Drill Instructor Iassic Williams Jr. (a former Marine Corps DI) on the last day of training, 0800 hours. The wildland fire-fighter students already have morning PT (0500 hrs), a hike up MF Mountain (0600 hrs), and breakfast done to begin their last day of training before tomorrow's graduation ceremony. Out of 34 original recruits, these remaining 23 students stuck out the 20 days of intense academic and physical training and were graduated the following afternoon.
GRADUATION: Graduates pose for a picture with academy head staff personnel.
GRADUATION: Battalion Chief Ray Ruiz Sr. (speaking) addresses the audience as Lori Bell, Chief Mitch Villalpando, Chief Hank Murphy, Chief Bill Clayton look on with graduates in the background.
GRADUATION: Academy recruits (front rows) are seated with guests during the presentation at the Sycuan Casino theater on the San Diego County Indian reservation.
GRADUATION: Sycuan Fire Department Deputy Chief Mitch Villalpando speaks to graduation families, staff and guests with the wildland graduates in the background on stage.
GRADUATION: Sycuan-BIA Wildland FIre Academy graduates receive their duty assignments from Chief Ruiz.
DAY ONE: Chief Hank Murphy, Sycuan Kumeyaay, presents the 10th Sycuan-BIA Wildland Academy class with their official company flag.
DAY FIVE: Chief Raymond Ruiz Sr. of the Golden Eagles Hotshots addresses fire fighter students at the Sycuan fire academy 2007 as Drill Instructor Isaac Williams Jr. look on.
DAY FOUR: Chief Bill Clayton teaches a class on maps, compass, GPS...the academy split-up in groups and went into the field to use fire-fighting compasses and apply the topography theory studied in the classroom.
DAY SIX: Double-time...
DAY ONE: Academy wildland firefighting recruits dress right during morning inspection.
DAY ONE: Leg lifts "Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body" an experienced team of professional drill instructors, professional firemen and former Marine Corps DIs, introduce recruits to elite military-style physical training and discipline.
DAY ONE: Fire recruits crawl up to the water towers during intense "Marine Corps" style physical training.
DAY SIX: Two wildland students lead their class on a run up a big hill during military-style fitness training on the Sycuan Indian Reservation in San Diego County, Southern California.
DAY SIX: Pushups...
DAY ELEVEN: Former Marine Corps drill instructors (l-r) Jorge Solis, Rey Castro, and Iassic Williams Jr. pose for a photo.
DAY ELEVEN: Firefighter academy haircuts.
DAY FIVE: Academy students participate in field safety lecture.
DAY TWO: Drill Instructor Terry Bowen, a former Army Ranger and Sycuan professional firefighter, talks with recruits during a hot day in training.
DAY FIVE: Fire-fighting instructors from the Bureau of Indian Affairs BIA pose for a picture in front of the Kumeyaay Community College on the Sycuan Indian Reservation with the Sycuan Golden Eagles Hotshots Battalion Chief Raymond Ruiz Sr. The two Native American instructors, Jim Nanamkin and Soledad Holguin, are wildland fire investigators serving with the BIA Pacific Regional Office in Sacramento.
DAY FIVE: Firefighting academy students receive hands-on wildland fire training at the Sycuan-BIA wildland school, Sycuan Indian Reservation in San Diego County.
DAY FIVE: Chief Ray Ruiz gives instruction during a portable pumps and water use class.
DAY FIVE: Mobile attack field training...
DAY FIVE: Mountain climbers...
DAY FIVE: Chief Hank Murphy, founder of the Sycuan Fire Department, observes training. DI Castro is pictured with Mr. Murphy. Both men are former Marines and full-time professional firefighters.
DAY SIX: Fire-fighting team of students practice hose lays and mobile attack 650 feet up MF Mountain on a treacherous 75-degree slope while jumping over a deep under-slung line cut into the fire line for erosion control on the reservation. The firefighting students have strung over 1,000 feet of fire hose up the mountain to bring the water to this area.
DAY SIX: Fire-fighting students practice hose lays and mobile attack 650 feet up MF Mountain on a treacherous 75-degree slope on the San Diego County Indian reservation. The Sycuan Casino is pictured in the background with its massive new parking structure.
DAY NINE: Professional fireman, Captain Juan Mendez of the Golden Eagles Hotshots, calls back an update to headquarters as the academy students rest in the background atop MF Mountain at around 5:30am.
DAY NINE: After cutting line all night long, firefighting academy students were given a brief period to rest atop MF Mountain, note their MREs which they ate in the lower photo.
DAY NINE: After cutting line all night long, firefighting academy students take a break and eat MREs (meal ready to eat) military-style field rations after a long night of hard work on the mountain.
DAY NINE: After cutting line all night long, firefighting academy students take a break from their "Coyote Tactics" night operations training to pose for a class photo atop MF Mountain.
DAY EIGHT: City and Sycuan fire-fighting aircrewmen pose for a picture after completing flight training with the recruits on the Sycuan Indian Reservation in preparation for night operations.
DAY EIGHT: Golden Eagles Battalion Chief (pointing) goes over night operations planing with his captains and air support personnel.
DAY NINE: Elite Golden Eagle Flycrew members bring in a helicopter transporting academy students (lower photo).
DAY NINE: Helo drops academy students atop of MF Mountain; this was the first helicopter ride for many of the recruits.
DAY THIRTEEN: Chainsaw task and technique.
DAY SEVENTEEN: Academy fire-fighting students and Golden Eagles Hotshots airmen stand by while City Copter 1 is refueled during a training exercise at Montgomery Field in San Diego.
DAY SEVENTEEN: Sycuan fire-fighting students and Golden Eagles Hotshots train during City Copter 1 flight ops at Montgomery Field in San Diego.
DAY SEVENTEEN: Dave Underwood, BIA-NIFC aviation specialist out of New Mexico (center), poses for a picture with Golden Eagles Flycrew Captain George Violante (right), and San Diego City Copter 1 rescue medic Steve Vandewalle (in blue flight suit), during a S-271 training exercise at Montgomery Field in San Diego.
GRADUATION DAY: Native American fire-fighter recruit receives congratulations from his reservation fire chief just before wildland graduation ceremonies...
Wildland pictures and writing by GARY G. BALLARD photojournalist.
2006 ACADEMY STILL PICTURES
ACADEMY MULTIMEDIA
 BOOT CAMP DOCUMENTARY DVD MOVIE THEATER MARQUEE:
MOVIES: DVD | Testimonials | Chief Murphy Speech | Rules & Regs
ACADEMY CAREER TRAINING INFORMATION
- INFORMATION ABOUT the BIA-Sycuan Wildland Academy:
ACADEMY History, Curriculum, Certifications, Mission, Purpose, Application Procedure, Requirements, Indian Preference, Contact, Selection Process, Tuition Costs.
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