Duke firefighter best in AF Reserve Command

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  Staff Sgt. Michael P. Barrow, 919th Civil Engineer Squadron, was named the Air Force Reserve Command 2005 Military Firefighter of the Year.

"Sergeant Barrow is a stellar performer," said Chief Master Sgt. William J. Posey Jr., 919th CES fire chief. "His job performance, technical competence, initiative, and accomplishments are far above the norm. He has an uncanny ability to ‘rally the troops' to accomplish any objective that comes his way."

Training is of utmost important to Sergeant Barrow.

Besides completing his own upgrade training in record time with great scores, he spends his on- and off-duty time providing instruction for the younger troops. To expand his knowledge as a firefighter, he volunteered for a six-month active-duty tour at Eglin Air Force Base, said the chief.

On the humanitarian side, Sergeant Barrow volunteered to deliver food and supplies to Keesler AFB, Miss., for firefighters who were devastated by Hurricane Katrina last year, he said.

The Philadelphia native and former Army Ranger works as a civilian for the 96th CES at Duke Field during the week and strives to work his way through the Reserve ranks.

As a Ranger, he notched more than 100 jumps. He was a certified jump master and trained other soldiers. He proudly wears his airborne wings patch on his battle dress uniform and Ranger tab on his dress blues.

The discipline, esprit de corps and intestinal fortitude needed to be a Ranger is similar to that of a firefighter, said Sergeant Barrow.

"I started quite a few fires as a Ranger," he said. "I'm proud now to be among the fire-fighting professionals who put them out. A lot of them are just as qualified and deserve this award just as much as I do. I consider myself very fortunate to have won."