AHERO & Tall Timbers

AHERO & Tall Timbers Partner on PrescribedBurn Training Courses

By Connie Conway

Along with Tall Timbers Inc, a non-profit that has set the standard for controlled burn conservation techniques, AHERO’s own Lee Stuckey helped create and carry out the first Veteran and First Responder prescribed-burn training course in February of this year. Lee’s motive for doing so aligns completely with what he largely considers his life’s work.

“At AHERO, we’re always looking for realistic, life-affirming solutions to help our heroes get past the sense of having lost connection and meaningful purpose after years of service,” he says. “This is a great one of those solutions.”

For many whose long hours of sometimes waiting, sometimes adrenaline-fused, all-out action once defined their career, retirement may be seen as a restful reward. But, upon leaving military service or retiring their firstresponder roles, they may miss the sense of purpose they came to realize was theirs through the work they performed and the team they were proud to be part of. Often, they miss working in the “great outdoors” as well.

In conducting private and wildland prescribed burning courses with Tall Timbers, Lee’s goal is to provide training that results in a certificate of expertise in these valuable conservation skills. In his own words to those interested in taking the February session, “You will leave this course as a wildland firefighter as well as an Alabama prescribed burn manager, and you’ll connect with other like-minded individuals throughout the process.”

The course was given at Camp ASSCA in Jacksons Gap, Alabama. In Lee’s own words, “It was fantastic!” 1stSgt Jacob Hogan (USMC) attended, and his personal story, written and sent to us before taking the course, follows here.