TWENTY-TWO students of the Western Pacific Maritime Academy, underwent basic firefighting training on Sunday, Nov. 19 at the Airport Rescue Firefighting facility as part of the requirements to obtain a merchant mariner credential or MMC.
According to the academy’s executive director, Capt. Michael Bacher, an MMC allows individuals to work on seagoing commercial cargo and other maritime trades vessels.
Bacher said most of the trainees are Public School System students, while around “four to five” are recent PSS graduates.
PSS covers the training costs, Bacher added.
“I would imagine that for most of them this is their first time on a firehose handling live water and doing the things they would be expected to do when firefighting on a ship,” Bacher said.
Trainees had to put on their firefighting gear in three minutes; utilize proper advancement and retraction of a firehose in teams; demonstrate how to pull a person out of darkened space in simulated smoke; use a firefighting self-contained breathing apparatus; and perform other related tasks.
Juan Inos, a PSS student, said his father is a firefighter and is his “inspiration.”
During training, Inos said the hose was stronger than he thought it would be, but it was “fun,” despite mishandling it. “I learned from my mistake to try and hold it harder and helped my friend raise the hose so he wouldn’t get injured,” Inos said.
Another trainee, Marvin Reyes, said putting on the firefighting gear was the most challenging part of the training. “It was hot inside — it felt like you were going to die,” he said in jest.
Reyes said he is looking forward to the completion of the training, as it will help him earn his MMC and seek employment with the Military Sealift Command.
“This is my path that I’m taking,” Reyes said. “For sure I’m going to get there.”
For Melvin Rai, the training showed the importance of working as a team. “It’s pretty tiring holding the hose under pressure and trying to switch with your partner,” he said. “A lot of this work has to do with teamwork. The more teamwork you have with your friends, the [easier] to do the job safely and nobody gets hurt.”
Rai said he has already completed various other maritime academy training courses.
Kenshiro Yanai, for his part, said all he needs is a firefighting certification so he can obtain an MMC.
He wants to work on the deck of a commercial cargo ship so he can see the world.
“My whole purpose of being a mariner is I want to be able to travel around the world but still return to home. I want to stay in Saipan,” Yanai said.
Captain Bacher said commercial ocean-going crewmembers can work for a few months out of the year, earning $5,000-$7,000 a month and then take months off for rest.
Yanai hopes to be able to follow this working model. “But there’s a lot of responsibility,” he added. “I’m expecting already a different lifestyle on the ship.”
Bacher said he is grateful to the Commonwealth Ports Authority and its ARFF for supporting the training program.
“We could not put on this practical training for basic firefighting were it not for a very generous relationship that we share with [CPA] and with ARFF, and so we really appreciate them extending their facilities and their people to assist,” he said.
Students at Kagman High School, Saipan Southern High School and Da’ok Academy who are interested in joining the next maritime academy cohort should speak with their counselors or principals for more information, Bacher said.
He added they are also working to offer training opportunities to interested Marianas High School students.
Western Pacific Maritime Academy students must undergo firefighting training before they can earn a merchant mariner credential.
WPMA trainees must have practical firefighting training before they can earn a merchant mariner credential.
The trainees learn how to use a firefighting self-contained breathing apparatus.
After completing their training, Melvin Rai, left, Marvin Reyes, center, and Juan Inos, right, pose for Variety.
Among those who conducted the training was Firefighter II Edward Dela Cruz.
