YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 374th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department hosted second graders from Keimei Gakuen Elementary School, located in Akishima, Feb. 28, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, by opening their fire station for a hands-on tour.

Tech. Sgt. Peter Beyer, the 374th CES Fire Department NCOIC of logistics, provided the tour, with hopes of inspiring a new generation of firefighters.

“Kids love coming to the fire station,” said Beyer. “We're very hands-on with the equipment, so they get to touch almost everything.”

The 374th CES Fire Department typically conducts one tour per month as part of the Japanese Local School Partnership Program. This program invites local Japanese students to come to Yokota and learn something new outside of their normal classroom environment, while also giving them a first-hand look at the U.S. military. In the past, students have visited the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron combat mobility flight and the 374th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog (MWD) unit.

“When we invite the community to come on to base and see what we do, it makes our interactions more personal and human,” said Beyer. “It kind of gives the community a small sense of ownership of Yokota, making it feel like part of their community too.”

The 374th CES Fire Department also frequently provides prevention education to the on-base community and welcomes interested members of Team Yokota to stop by at almost any time to see how their team of U.S. and Japanese firefighters maintain readiness for emergency response.

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