A career to envy

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lou Burton
  • 482FW/PA
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  "True heroism is remarkably sober, very un-dramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."
~Arthur Ashe

The unexpected happens in an instant. It comes without warning and leaves time only for reaction. Without proper forethought and training, these unexpected moments can be disastrous. Luckily, there are those who take moments of peace to prepare for those moments of chaos. One such person is Lieutenant Mike Ledger, Homestead ARB Firefighter. 

The 31 year career of Lt. Ledger began with a sparked interest in serving others when he volunteered at his local firehouse at age 15.

"I have seen so many changes in the way firefighters do business over the years. From the equipment we use to the process we deploy, it has been interesting to see how this career has developed into a science of saving lives," said Lt. Ledger. "We are smarter in the way we do business."

Along with years of experience, Lt. Ledger has quite an impressive educational background.
 
"I have an Associates in Safety, Associates in Law Enforcement, Bachelor of Science in Fire Science, and a Masters Degree in Emergency Management," said Lt. Ledger. "Training and education is an important part of staying current in my career field. Techniques and procedures are always changing and it is my personal responsibility to get that information."

To accompany Lt. Ledger's educational resume are some very prestigious awards. "I have two previous Medals of Valor, New York City Firefighter Medal of Valor, Extraordinary Life Saving Skills award and recently received the 2008 Air Force Reserve Command Civilian Firefighter of the Year in August of 2009 at the Chiefs conference," said Lt. Ledger.

"The award Mike received is very prestigious. What it means is that he is the top firefighter in the entire Air Force Reserve Command. Mr. Ledger is a true asset to our department and his work has been a key part in our department receiving an excellent rating," said Francisco Gonzalez, Assistant Chief of Operations. 

The 2008 award partly stemmed from Lt. Ledger's quick response to a potential disaster at the Homestead Air Reserve Base.

"In June of 2006, I discovered a fire in the roof of our building during a construction remodel," said Lt. Ledger. "Because of the quick response, I was able to save an estimated $10 Million in assets. As for the future, I could retire now, but I'm going to work until the age cut off. After that, I want to continue my career in an administrative role, training the next generation of firefighters," said Lt. Ledger.