Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Valentine | U.S. Army Spc. Jason Sim, assigned to the 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command,...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command held an insider threat and mass casualty exercise May 23 at Kandahar Airfield. The inside-the-wire threat exercise was a joint effort between the 311th ESC, military police, and Romanian and Slovenian forces.
“Joint training develops cohesion and cooperation between all forces involved,” said Sgt. 1st Class Manuel Cano, force protection noncommissioned officer in charge, 311th ESC. “It develops camaraderie between forces and test strengths and weaknesses.”
The training scenario involved an individual who entered an office building and simulated opening fire on soldiers and civilians working inside.
“The event was intended to bring the possible threat into the forefront in everyone’s mind,” said Cano of Corona, Calif. “Insider threats continue to rise in Afghanistan, so the force protection team sought to ensure 311th ESC personnel were properly prepared and trained for the event if it should occur.”
The military police arrived and systematically went room to room, clearing them until they found the pretend shooter. They apprehended the mock intruder, handcuffed him and led him outside the building.
“The inside-the-wire threat exercise proved to be a great success with all involved,” said Cano. “It took two months to develop, plan and execute. I would not change a thing.”
Capt. Wesley Sands, 311th ESC force protection officer in charge from Fort Pierce, Fla., had this to add about the performance of those participating in the exercise.
“One thing that stood out in my mind during the exercise was the MPs professionalism and seriousness during the exercise,” said Capt. Sands. “Although it was only an exercise, when they cleared the building, one would not have known that it was 'just' a rehearsal."
After the building was secured and the threat was removed, the 311th prepared to deal with the aftermath.
“It is very important for every unit to test their MASCAL plan on a regular basis. As the new 'doc,' I wanted to make sure the unit was ready for a real-life MASCAL situation,” said Maj. Jarret Sands, 311th ESC command surgeon from Olympia, Wash.
The second simulated event tested soldiers and processes in the event of a mass casualty situation. Multiple soldiers were placed in various locations throughout a building. Each one was made-up with a false injury which was identifiable due to the false wounds applied with makeup, fake blood and rubber devices.
The first step was to gain accountability. Once an accurate count was made at the rally point, medics, combat lifesavers and other emergency personnel practiced life-saving measures on the mock injured.
“A MASCAL is a very scary and chaotic situation,” said Sands. “The challenge with any MASCAL is that you are attempting to 'control the chaos.' The only way you can do this is to plan, prepare and practice.”
Before calling an end to the training exercise, all those who participated were also check to make sure no one was injured during the frantic but effective scenario.
“Having the other ISAF forces help with the first phase of the exercise (inside the wire threat) was a great example to the rest of the 311th ESC soldiers on how real this threat is," said Sands. “Having them see the other unit’s response and professionalism set the stage for the MASCAL exercise. In addition, 3rd Sustainment Brigade tested their response time to the MASCAL.”
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2013 07:52 |
| Story ID: | 107634 |
| Location: | AF |
| Hometown: | CORONA, CA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT PIERCE, FL, US |
| Hometown: | OLYMPIA, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 128 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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