 A strike team is made up of a group of vehicles, normally five vehicles, such as tankers, ultralights and a strike team, crew leader in a strike team leader's car. Being in a strike team is a really good opportunity to represent your brigade and the CFA organisation, the ability to utilise your training whilst working with a great group of friends and other brigade members. My first strike team experience was in 2009 in the Blacksat Day Fires. I was deployed to Fertree Gully and Marysville when I was with Calorama. What I wish I knew before going on a strike team is to be better mentally prepared for the unknown and the resources that are available to us, and the importance of being well prepared leading up to a strike team, including hydration before, during and after. This will definitely change for everyone, but for myself it was an adequate change of clothes, light personal items that you might require and a phone charger. Best thing about going on a strike team for myself was doing what you've been trained to do, the opportunity to meet friends that can really become lifelong friends and helping a community in need. I personally have learnt a lot through going on strike teams. I have really been able to utilise training and being able to improve my skillset and just being able to really help out in a community when they need it and I guess at the end of the day that's sort of why we're all here.