Since February, "more life" has returned to the equipment centres of the Rüdersdorf volunteer fire brigade near Berlin. Now that we have resumed our regular training services despite coronavirus, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you about the current status of your volunteer fire brigade.
On 18 March, the first management training course took place in the equipment depot of the Rüdersdorf local fire brigade. At this "kick-off event", I presented to the managers of all three local fire brigades the ideas that we, my deputy Mario Strutzke and I, had put together and why there should be regular management training courses in future. The thoughts of the individual managers were also collated. Once again, I was delighted to realise that the Rüdersdorf volunteer fire brigade near Berlin has a great sense of team spirit and that every single member is committed to the advancement of our fire brigade. A "timetable" is now being drawn up for future training courses, in which the ideas we have gathered will be incorporated.
As it is uncertain whether we will or may hold a joint comradeship evening this year, we have used this date to honour a very special comrade from Rüdersdorf. Matthias Krohn has been a member of the Rüdersdorf local fire brigade since 2018 and was previously active in the Lichterfelde volunteer fire brigade for many years. I was able to present Mr Krohn with the gold loyalty medal for "40 years of loyal service in the fire service" from the state of Brandenburg. Once again, my warmest congratulations for this well-deserved honour. I wish you, dear Matthias, continued enjoyment in "your" fire brigade and that you will remain with us as a dedicated comrade for a long time to come.
The comrades who took part in this year's Truppmann training will have to wait a "little" longer for the "40 years of loyal service in the fire service" award. From 20 February to 17 April 2021, the training to become a squad member took place on a total of four Saturdays. Ten comrades from the Rüdersdorf near Berlin fire brigade and one from Woltersdorf were prepared for the seriousness of "firefighting life" in this course. During the four days of training, the comrades were taught the basic knowledge for active firefighting service in theory and practice. On the last day of training, the practical exam was on the "timetable". After a dress rehearsal, two operational exercises were carried out as a test. Functions were allocated to the firefighters by drawing lots. The training object, a vacant residential building, was prepared with a fog machine. In almost "zero visibility", the participants in the test were instructed by the squad leader to fight the fire and rescue people. The examination board, comrade Matti Schuckert (local fire brigade commander of Herzfelde), comrade Philipp Apitz (deputy local fire brigade commander of Hennickendorf) and I, had very few comments following both operational exercises. We were therefore able to congratulate all ten course participants on passing their exams. One member of the Hennickendorf local fire brigade was unable to take part in this examination for health reasons, but this will of course be made up for at the appropriate time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my comrades Eddi Plicht and Mario Krippner. Both comrades supported me actively and with great commitment in organising this course.
The following comrades have successfully completed the Truppmann training:
- Jeremy Brietzke (Hennickendorf local fire brigade)
- Jeremy Schubert (Hennickendorf local fire brigade)
- Franka-Pauline Trötsch (Hennickendorf local fire brigade)
- Monty-Brian Albrecht (Herzfelde local fire brigade)
- Marie-Josephine Hoffmann (Herzfelde local fire brigade)
- Dennis Kretschmer (Herzfelde local fire brigade)
- Thomas Meller (Herzfelde local fire brigade)
- Detlef Nyga (Rüdersdorf local fire brigade)
- Matthias Preuß (Rüdersdorf local fire brigade)
- Jens Pillibeit (Woltersdorf Volunteer Fire Brigade)
With best regards
Stay healthy!
Björn Hanneck
Fire chief
Picture: Squad member (photo by Philipp Apitz)