Vibrant Response 13 blasts off with decontamination training

Photo By Staff Sgt. Candice Harrison | Guardsmen from the 637th Chemical Company out of Kettering, Ohio, decontaminate a role player during Vibrant Response 13 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex, Ind., July 26, 2012. Vibrant Response 13 is a major field exercise conducted by U.S. Northern Command and led by U.S. Army North. Over 5,000 service members and civilians form the military and other federal agencies throughout the country are training to respond to a catastrophic domestic incident.  

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING COMPLEX, IN, UNITED STATES

07.26.2012

Story by Sgt. Candice Harrison 

24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING COMPLEX, Ind. – As Vibrant Response 13 kicked off, Ohio National Guard and Air National Guard performed decontamination training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex, Ind., July 26.

The guardsmen are part of Homeland Response Force assigned to Joint Task Force-Civil Support, which is responsible for lifesaving and life-sustaining operations following a domestic chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident.

Vibrant Response is a major field exercise conducted by U.S. Northern Command and led by U.S. Army North.

“I come out here about 30 to 45 minutes before the rest of my advance team,” said Sgt. 1st Class David Nickerson, the decontamination non-commissioned officer of the 637th Chemical Company. “It gives me a chance to lay out the site.”

Early in the day, Nickerson a national guardsman from Kettering, Ohio, was the first person on ground to occupy the area to be used for the decontamination site. Nickerson marked out the area and began guiding the vehicles containing specialized equipment into spaces where they would be downloaded.

Using the terrain and space available, we were able to determine the best layout for the equipment and personnel located at the decontamination site, said Nickerson.

Meanwhile, guardsman from the 135th Military Police Company, a National Guard unit out of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, set up a barricade around the decontamination site.

Spc. Christopher Adkins, a military policeman with the MP Company, watched his area of the barricade. The Sheffield Lake, Ohio, native explained that it is his unit’s job to keep people out of the set up area until it is ready for operation.

Approximately 5,000 service members and civilians form the military and other federal agencies throughout the country are training to respond to a catastrophic domestic incident during this Vibrant Response training exercise.

Some of the service members participating in Vibrant Response 13 have been a part of the training many times before. Staff Sgt. Aaron Foyd, also a military policeman with the 135th, expressed that Vibrant Response has almost become a ritual for him.

I’m happy to be able to share this experience with my soldiers, said Foyd. It is a good training opportunity for everyone involved.

As the military police provided security for the site, the chemical company worked diligently to set up the decontamination tents. When the people were finally extracted from the simulated collapsed building, they were brought to the triage area.

Tech. Sgt. Kristin Bandy, a medical technician from 121st Medical Group of the Air National Guard out of Columbus, Ohio, decided who needed treatment first and sent them to be decontaminated.

With the parameter of the site secure and people triaged, the service members began to decontaminate the survivors. Anyone who could not walk was brought in on a stretcher and placed on a litter to get processed through the decontamination tents.

After being washed and rinsed multiple times, the survivors were instructed to remove their contaminated clothing, explained Sgt. Selby Rupe, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with the chemical company.

After being tested and cleared of any contaminants, the survivors were given blankets and moved to another area to receive additional medical treatment.

“I like this realistic training,” said Pfc. Amanda Vogt, a military policeman from the MP company. “You have to be ready for something that looks like this.”

• Date Taken: 07.26.2012
• Date Posted: 07.27.2012 07:37
• Story ID: 92242
• Location: MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING COMPLEX, IN, US