MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Battling fires and taking control during a blazing inferno is only part of what makes a firefighter who can be deemed Firefighter of the Year.
Captain Dwight Charleston, a Parris Island Fire Department engine captain, is not one to sit aside and watch things happen. Instead, he jumps into the fire and takes control. These are reasons why he was awarded the Civilian Firefighter of the Year Award for 2003 in New Orleans.
"It was a total surprise," said Charleston, a 20-year veteran firefighter. "I had no knowledge of it until they sent me an e-mail saying that I had won."
The humble captain does not see his job and the requirements it has on his personal time as anything more than just doing his job.
While he cannot see it, others have seen his time spent volunteering in the Beaufort area as going above and beyond his job. He has helped with the Northern Beaufort County Hazardous Materials team and running the Burton Fire District volunteer program.
"I just did my job," he said. "I guess it was above and beyond, but to me it is just my job. I was just honored to get what I got and to make it as far as I did. I am the first person from Parris Island to ever receive this [award] and, hopefully, I will set a standard that other people will try to achieve."
The award was based on things that Charleston did throughout the year, and those accomplishments led him to being selected the winner from the more than 800 eligible firefighters in the Marine Corps.
Kevin King, manager for the Headquarters Marine Corps Fire Protection Programs, as well as administrator for the Marine Corps Fire Service, is one of the people responsible for making the decision as to who gets selected for the award.
"We send the nomination procedures to the installation fire departments," said King. "We collect all the nomination packages, develop the selection process for the Marine Corps nominees, participate as a member of the selection board and, finally, we submit the Marine Corps nominees to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, who determine the DoD award winners."
While King did not know Charleston personally before the awards banquet, he talked with Kelvin Canady, PIFD Fire Chief, and heard that he was one of his best. His accomplishments clearly spoke for themselves, added King.
"He was very deserving to be nominated as the Marine Corps Civilian Fire Fighter of the Year, and I believe he has a great future in the Marine Corps Fire Service," said King.
He is probably one of the most well versed captains that we have in the department, Canady said confidently.
Charleston, a former Marine mechanic, said his interest in the realm of fighting fires and saving lives first began during his time in high school as a member of a volunteer rescue squad.
While his interest may have started in high school, Charleston's career as a fireman began while he was still in the Marine Corps.
"I started as a volunteer firefighter in May of 1984," he said. "I was still in the Marine Corps at the time, and I volunteered for Burton Fire District."
After spending four years in the Corps and attaining the rank of corporal, Charleston set out to begin his career as a full-time firefighter.
"I got out of the Marine Corps and went to work for Beaufort County [Emergency Medical Services]," he said. "That is where I got my EMS training, but a lot of my [understanding] came from the Burton Fire District."
While gaining experience in Beaufort area fire departments, including MCAS Beaufort, Charleston felt an urge to go home and did so in the late '80s to work at Fort Drum, N.Y. Although he was near his home, his wife was far from her home in Beaufort, so the family moved back to Beaufort in October 1997, and he began working at the PIFD.
"Actually, when I graduated boot camp here in 1982, I swore that I would never step foot on Parris Island again," said Charleston.
Charleston also said that the Marine Corps taught him a lot, and all of the core values he learned still play a role in what he does everyday at the PIFD.
"This is my second time to work with him," said Kelvin Canady, PIFD fire chief. "I worked with him in the '80s over at the Air Station, and I hired him here when he decided to come back to South Carolina. He is just very passionate about what he does. He believes in his work, and he excels at whatever he does."
When he arrived at Parris Island, Canady noticed that his knowledge had grown substantially from the time they worked together at the Air Station in the '80s.
"That knowledge had a large part in his winning this award," said Canady.
He is a good thinker on his feet and under pressure - he handles that very well, Canady added.
"All of the knowledge that I have gained at all of the different places I have worked, and seeing different ways to do things has all led up to this," said Charleston. "I couldn't have done it without all of those jobs."
King agrees and sees the award as an example of the PIFD team's hard work and dedication.
"I think it reflects very well on the quality of the personnel and programs at the Parris Island Fire Department," said King. "The department is a very high-performing organization and provides a high degree of protection to the recruits, Marines and family members at Parris Island. Captain Charleston epitomizes that professionalism and dedication."