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History of the 297th Engineer Detachment, Firefighting Team

January 23, 2025
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Units
297th Engineer Detachment logo

297th ENG DET, Firefighting Team

297th Engineer Detachment, Firefighting Team

The 297th Engineer Detachment Fire Fighting Team was organized on 1 April 1999. The 297th Firefighting Team is presently involved with the Hawaii CERF-P program which is designed to respond to natural or man-made mass casualty incidents and major disasters. 297th Firefighting Team is involved with medical and confined spaces extraction as Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERF-P) Army National Guard. The 297th Firefighting Team is also involved with aircraft and ground vehicle crash, rescue and victim extrication.

297th Engineer Detachment, Firefighting Team Chronological History

The 297th Engineer Detachment Firefighting Team was organized under a carrier unit identification code. The unit will have 10 positions and will be equipped with a fire fighting truck. The firefighting team was activated, Oct. 1, 1999, and will be stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield.

– 1999 Annual Report pp. 8

The 297th Engineer Detachment, Firefighting Team is administratively attached to the 298th Engineer Detachment. The unit will have a total of 10 positions and will be equipped with a firefighting truck. The firefighting team was activated on Oct. 1, 1999 and will be stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield.

– 2000 Annual Report pp. 8

The 297th Engineer, Firefighting Team is administratively attached to the 298th Engineer Detachment. The unit is authorized a total of 10 positions and is equipped with a firefighting truck. The firefighting team was activated on Oct. 1, 1999, and is stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield.

– 2001 Annual Report pp. 8
FIRST STRIKE- 297th Firefighting Team soldiers practice their firefighting skills during annual training. Staff Sgt. Curtis H. Matsushige photo
FIRST STRIKE- 297th Firefighting Team soldiers practice their firefighting skills during annual training. Staff Sgt. Curtis H. Matsushige photo
(Picture from the 2002 Annual Report)

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team, is administratively attached to the 298th Engineer Detachment. Equipped with a firefighting truck, the team was activated on Oct. 1, 1999, and is stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield.

– 2002 Annual Report pp. 8

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team is administratively attached to the 298th Engineer Detachment. The unit is authorized 10 positions and is equipped with a firefighting truck stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield.

– 2003 Annual Report pp. 8

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team is administratively attached to the 298th Engineer Detachment. The unit is authorized 10 positions and is equipped with a firefighting truck stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield.

– 2004 Annual Report pp. 8

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team is administratively attached to the 298th Engineer Detachment. The unit is authorized 10 positions and is equipped with a firefighting truck stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield.

– 2005 Annual Report pp. 9

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team is administratively attached to the 298th Engineer Detachment. The unit is authorized 10 positions and is equipped with a firefighting truck stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield.

– 2006 Annual Report pp. 10

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team, located at the Waiawa Armory, is authorized 10 positions and is equipped with one firefighting service support vehicle. The team is a member of the Civil Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP)

– 2007 Annual Report pp. 10
RESCUE RAPELLING – Spc. John Kumalae, 297th Firefighting Team, firefighter, “rescues” Lt. Col. Stanley K. Sato, 154th Medical Group commander, role-playing a victim packaged for extraction, during a high angle rescue demonstration held during Exercise VIGILANT GUARD in Reno, Nev. Spc. Joanna N. Amberger photo
RESCUE RAPELLING – Spc. John Kumalae, 297th Firefighting Team, firefighter, “rescues” Lt. Col. Stanley K. Sato, 154th Medical Group commander, role-playing a victim packaged for extraction, during a high angle rescue demonstration held during Exercise VIGILANT GUARD in Reno, Nev. Spc. Joanna N. Amberger photo
(Picture from the 2008 Annual Report)

The Hawaii National Guard deployed 65 Soldiers and Airmen in response to an “emergency request for assistance” in Reno, Nev. The large-scale earthquake disaster response Exercise VIGILANT GUARD was held in June. Soldiers came from Joint Forces Headquarters – Hawaii, Deputy Chief of Staff for Information Management, 103rd Troop Command staff, 230th Engineer Co. and 297th Firefighting Team. Airmen came from the 154th Wing, 154th Medical Group and the 293rd Combat Communications Squadron.

– 2008 Annual Report pp. 12

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team, located at the Waiawa Armory, is authorized seven positions and is equipped with one Tactical Firefighting Truck (TFFT). The team is a member of the Civil Enhanced Response Force (CERF). With the reorganization of the unit and a loss of a commander, the unit has been administratively attached to the 230th Engineer Company.

– 2008 Annual Report pp. 10

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team, located at the Waiawa Armory, is authorized seven positions and is equipped with one Tactical Firefighting Truck (TFFT). The team is a member of the Civil Enhanced Response Force (CERF). With the reorganization of the unit has been administratively attached to the 230th engineers.

– 2009 Annual Report pp. 8

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team, located at the Waiawa Armory, is authorized seven positions and is equipped with one Tactical Firefighting Truck (TFFT). The team is a member of the Civil Enhanced Response Force (CERF).

– 2010 Annual Report pp. 9

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team, located at the Waiawa Armory, is authorized seven positions and is equipped with one Tactical Firefighting Truck (TFFT). The team is a member of the Civil Enhanced Response Force (CERF).

– 2011 Annual Report pp. 8

The 297th Engineer Firefighting Team, located at the Waiawa Armory, is a seven person fire fighting detachment. They are equipped with one Tactical Firefighting Truck (TFFT). The unit’s primary mission is to respond to airfield crashes and conduct rescue operations. The unit is also capable of responding to structural fires. The team is a member of the Civil Enhanced Response Force (CERF)

– 2012 Annual Report pp. 9

297th Engineer Detachment Fire Fighting Team

The fire fighters are headquartered in Waiawa. Its mission is to mobilize and deploy to any theater of operations to provide fire protection for aviation assets and other major facilities and to provide firefighting services during peace time in support of local Civil Authorities.

– 2013 Annual Report pp. 10

297th Engineer Detachment Fire Fighting Team

The fire fighters are headquartered in Waiawa. Its mission is to mobilize and deploy to any theater of operationsto provide fire protection for aviation assets and other major facilities and to provide firefighting services during peace time in support of local civil authorities.

– 2014 Annual Report pp. 11

297th Engineer Detachment Fire Fighting Team

The fire fighters are headquartered in Waiawa. Its mission is to mobilize and deploy to any theater of operations to provide fire protection for aviation assets and other major facilities and to provide firefighting services during peace time in support of local civil authorities

– 2015 Annual Report pp. 11
Hawai‘i Army National Guard fire fighters conduct aircraft training, Honolulu, HI. Hawai‘i Army National Guard Soldiers with the 297th Engineer Fire Fighting Detachment extinguish an aircraft fire during dismounted and mounted fire training on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Employees train throughout the year in order to refresh their fire controlling techniques. (Photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Theresa Gualdarama)
Hawai‘i Army National Guard fire fighters conduct aircraft training, Honolulu, HI. Hawai‘i Army National Guard Soldiers with the 297th Engineer Fire Fighting Detachment extinguish an aircraft fire during dismounted and mounted fire training on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Employees train throughout the year in order to refresh their fire controlling techniques. (Photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Theresa Gualdarama)
(Picture from the 2019 Annual Report)

297th Engineer, Firefighting Team

The firefighting team is headquartered in Waiawa, Oahu, and is commanded by Capt. Katherine P. Johnson. Its mission is to mobilize and deploy to any theater of operations to provide fire protection for aviation assets and other major facilities and to provide firefighting services during peace time in support of local civil authorities.

– 2019 Annual Report pp. 12

297th Engineer, Firefighting Team

The firefighting team is headquartered in Waiawa. Its mission is to mobilize and deploy to any theater of operations to provide fire protection for aviation assets and other major facilities and to provide firefighting services during peace time in support of local civil authorities. On order, provides National Guard Domestic Operations support throughout Hawai‘i. In FY20:

  • 297 FFT volunteers at Casa Giulia orphanage in Constanta, Romania.
  • Provided personnel support to Task Force Maui.
– 2020 Annual Report pp. 14

297th Engineer Detachment, firefighting team (297th ENG Det)

297th ENG Det will mobilize and deploy in any theater of operations to provide fire protection for aviation assets and other major facilities. Provide firefighting services during peacetime in support of local Civil Authorities and on order, they provide NGCS.

  • Fire and Emergency Services Training: The 297th ENG Det conducted training from June 17 to 21, 2024 at the PTA in order to train on mission essential task list proficiency
– 2024 Annual Report pp. 23-24
The 297th Engineer Detachment, Firefighting Team performed Aircraft Rescue Firefighting training with State Crash Rescue, Maui. – Hawai‘i National Guard photo
The 297th Engineer Detachment, Firefighting Team performed Aircraft Rescue Firefighting training with State Crash Rescue, Maui. – Hawai‘i National Guard photo
(Picture from the 2025 Annual Report)

297th Engineer Detachment, Firefighting Team (297th ENG Det)

The firefighting team is headquartered in Waiawa. Its mission is to mobilize and deploy to any theater of operations to provide fire protection for aviation assets and other major facilities and to provide firefighting services during peace time in support of local civil authorities. On order, provides National Guard civil support throughout Hawai‘i.

  • 297th ENG Det participated in a live environment training with Marine Corp Air Station – Kāne‘ohe during annual training.
  • 297th ENG Det performed aircraft rescue firefighting training with State Crash Rescue, Maui.
  • 297th ENG Det participated in USARPAC’s static display for the Army’s birthday.
– 2025 Annual Report pp. 26

297th Engineer Detachment, Firefighting Team Leadership

  • FY 2007 2nd Lt. Mel Horner
  • FY 2008 – FY 2009 Capt. Anthony Tolentino
  • FY 2010 – FY 2012 Staff Sgt. Allison Morris
  • FY 2013 Sgt. Juliusjay Fajotina
  • FY 2014 – FY 2015 Capt. Brent Nakasone
  • FY 2019 Capt. Jason Santos
  • FY 2020 Capt. Katherine Johnson
  • FY 2024 Capt. Michelle Apamparan
  • FY 2025 Capt. Lindsay Kraus
297th Engineer Detachment logo

Unofficial Unit Insignia

297th Engineer Detachment Lineage and Honors

Constituted 1 October 1999 in the Hawaii Army National Guard as the 297th Engineer Detachment

Organized and Federally recognized 2 June 2002 at Pearl City

Location changed 1 October 2003 to Kapolei

Campaign Participation Credit

  • None 

Decorations

  • None 

Last updated April 2007