VOLK FIELD, Wis. - Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Emergency (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) teams from Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Minnesota, came together at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center to train in hands-on scenarios that prepare them for real-world incidents.
CERFP members are specially trained to support civil authorities in the event of the release of a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) involving CBRNE devices. CERFP’s provide search, extraction, medical triage, and decontamination of casualties during CBRNE events.
“The Wisconsin CERFP holds the distinction of the World Record in set-up time,” said Lt. Col Brad Meyers, 115 Medical Group, Madison, Wis., “41 minutes, from the drop of the trailer doors to being able to receive casualties.”
The exercise got underway with a simulated explosion at a multi-story hotel. The Wisconsin Army National Guard’s, 273rd Engineer Company, CERFP Fatality Search and Rescue responded to exercise information that the adjacent building, containing radiation blood products, may have been affected by the explosion.
While CERFP member’s searched the incident sight for victims, the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing, Madison, Wis., CERFP medical personal prepared for the incoming victims.
Training provided the opportunity for multiple agencies, both civilian and military, to work together to process wounded members in a timely and efficient manner.
“This is the perfect Purple Force – Green and Blue, exercise,” said Meyers. “We have command and control with the Army, they handle the extraction and then we have medical expertise from the Air Force.”
The exercise is scrutinized and adjusted based on real-world scenarios, to provide more realistic training for the participants.
“People are suffering in a real-world situation, they suffered the loss of their home, maybe a loved one, and we want to get them the best possible medical care,” said Meyers. “Just stopping the crisis, that’s the key in our mission.”
Over 2,000 Army and Air National Guard members from 26 states joined members from a variety of local, state and federal agencies to train on responding to a large-scale domestic emergency.