Courtesy Photo | In this image released by the Texas Military Forces, service members with Joint Task...... read more read more
CAMP SWIFT, Texas - Within minutes of receiving their alert, the trained and proficient first responders arrived on scene at the high school gymnasium tocombat the chemical spill incident. Donning their safety equipment and working expertly in concert, they orchestrated a clean containment of the affected area. The incident, which involved a massive fuel tanker colliding with the building, presented an immediate and severe threat to both public and environmental safety.
This threat, however, remained only a simulated disaster to test the assets and training of state first responders.
The soldiers and airmen of Joint Task Force 71, a Texas Army National Guard brigade headquartered in Austin, Texas, responded as part of a capstone collective exercise July 28, 2011, during their annual training at Camp Swift.
Annual training enables National Guard units to maintain their soldiering skills, enabling them to meet the standard set by the brigade motto: "Always Ready-Always There."
“The more training we have, the more efficient we can be,” said Spc. Philip Garza, 236th Military Police Company.
The highlight of this year’s exercise was the new Homeland Respond Force mission training in preparation for certification this fall. The HRF enables JTF-71 to be one of the first responders in a FEMA Region VI crisis.
“We don’t have a wartime mission,” said the JTF-71 Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Horn. “New Orleans and Oklahoma City, those are the places where we really shine.”
Local emergency responders were also on hand during the exercise, as they would be in a real situation.
"State emergency response agencies like the fire department and the police department can get overwhelmed,” said 1st Lt. Joseph W. Meller, operations officer for the 836th Engineer Company. “We support and augment the local responders as force multipliers.”
Leading up to the collective event, the brigade conducted basic soldiering training with other units as well as job-specific exercises. Combat readiness training included weapons qualification and establishing an area of operations.
“We are still soldiers,” said Horn as a reminder that basic soldier skills cannot be forgotten.
The 836th, headquartered in Kingsville, conducted demolition training for familiarization and confidence building. In support of the HRF exercise, engineers used their problem solving skills and played a key role as the extraction team. They spent part of their time rappelling off a 54-foot tower in case a rope rescue is necessary during an incident.
“We are always ready. We are always there,” said Meller.
After being extracted from the exercise disaster area, casualties passed through CERFP Air Medical Element triage stage and the 436th Chemical Company decontamination lines. The CERFP is the CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive) Enhanced Response Force Package, capable of processing up to 100 casualties through the decontamination stage each hour.
During a domestic disaster, order must be upheld. Responsibility to diffuse civil disturbances lies with the 236th Military Police Company, as they partner with civilian law enforcement.
The 236th, headquartered in San Antonio, spent the majority of their time practicing traditional MP skill sets, such as riot control, convoy operations and patrols. During a civil disturbance exercise, MPs defended a building from a trash-throwing, rioting mob.
“We are soldiers, we hydrate, and we drive on and do anything to complete the mission,” said Garza as he rested in under the suns heat.
On the day of the collective HRF exercise, the cool early morning quickly reached temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Even with the extreme heat, the units still did their part to complete the mission.
“The advantage of this training is that we all get to set up our lanes and everyone gets to do their job,” said Horn. “Soldiers and Airmen with the 436th, 836th, and the SPEARR work very well together.”
The SPEARR is the joint medical component of the HRF, the Small Portable Expeditionary Aeromedical Rapid Response.
Being one of only 10 outfits of its kind in the U.S., the HRF makes JTF-71 part of a unique set of assets in the National Guard.
“Our soldiers and airmen don’t have to do this, they get to do this,” said Horn, “and that’s what sets them apart from other soldiers and airmen.”
| Date Taken: | 07.28.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.02.2011 11:55 |
| Story ID: | 74685 |
| Location: | CAMP SWIFT, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Homeland responders refresh skills, by SSG Praxedis Pineda, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT