The morning of the September 11 attacks, firefighters at Robins Air Force Base had just wrapped up a training exercise putting out flames from spilled jet fuel.
After that simulated emergency, firefighters had to get to work bracing for any real threat to the base.
"It made you think, what would happen if something similar happened here and what we would have to do to keep people safe," said Deputy Chief David Chaplin. "What we protect here has an effect around the world for the Air Force," added Chief Forest Johnson.
In the days after the attacks, emotions ran high on base, but security was even higher.
"Our mission definitely morphed that day," said Assistant Chief Todd Surber. "Weapons of mass destruction came on the radar." "We're a lot more cautious on responses, looking over our shoulder," said Johnson.