Why I Serve: One 403rd Firefighter's Story

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kimberly Erickson
  • 403rd Wing
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  This story is part 2 of a 3 part series on 403rd Wing Reservists' civilian jobs.

"Grab some gear, we're going to the roof," a Biloxi Fire Department assistant fire chief told firefighter Master Sgt. Mark Toepfer more than a decade ago at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss.

Sergeant Toepfer, a Reservist at the 403rd Wing, located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., was home for lunch on a drill weekend when he heard the radio call dispatching his civilian coworkers from BFD and reacted.

On arrival, Sergeant Toepfer learned that construction scaffolding had fallen while workers were painting on it.

"Three people were suspended midair by their harnesses after the platform they were working on collapsed," Sergeant Toepfer said.

After reaching his crew on the roof, Sergeant Toepfer helped build a complex rope system, then volunteered to rappel down alone to the endangered workers.

Once strapped into a harness, "I was able to rappel down to them and rescue them from the collapsed scaffolding," Sergeant Toepfer said.

Helping people while doing something good for the community is what drives him to be a firefighter, he said.

In January, Sergeant Toepfer returned from a four month deployment with the 403rd to Southwest Asia, where he said his civilian job helped him fulfill his military role in theater.

"When we get Reservists who are also civilian firefighters, it's a huge asset because we don't have time on a drill weekend to take someone who's green and turn them into a professional firefighter," Sergeant Toepfer said. "Really, that's what the Reserve gets out of a civilian firefighter is their civilian experience."

Ninety percent of Sergeant Toepfer's unit while deployed also worked as civilian firefighters back home. For the first time ever, that same deployed fire station was manned entirely by Air Force Reservists.

"Our primary mission was training the Iraqi air force and local city firefighters," Sergeant Toepfer said. "We really enjoyed seeing how much they developed their skills over the four months we were there."

While deployed, Sergeant Toepfer completed two professional firefighter certifications required by the Reserve, developing his abilities as a firefighter and advancing his civilian career.

"Having those two courses now takes care of prerequisites required to qualify for a chief's position on the civilian side," Sergeant Toepfer said. "They were really the last two prerequisites I needed."

Being a Reservist has also been a positive influence on his civilian job, Sergeant Toepfer said.

"I think my civilian leadership appreciates that I'm in the military," he said. "I hope it shows in the discipline and professionalism I bring to the job."

With more than 25 years of combined active duty and Reserve military experience, Sergeant Toepfer could retire whenever he wants, but said he still has two goals left to achieve.

"I'd really like to make deputy chief (at the 403rd) before I retire," he said. To be eligible for deputy chief, Sergeant Toepfer would need to be promoted to senior master sergeant first.

At BFD, Sergeant Toepfer said he would like to earn the position of assistant chief, "because I still want to be involved in the hands on aspect of firefighting."

"They ask me at my civilian job, 'When are you getting out?'" Sergeant Toepfer said.

With his many years of service, Sergeant Toepfer's fellow firefighters at BFD often inquire about his plans for retirement.

"The Reserve offers a great career. I have a lot of time and years invested and I'm just not ready to give it up yet," Sergeant Toepfer said.