HULMAN FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ind. — This week Airmen from the 181st Intelligence Wing, Indiana Air National Guard are being evaluated on disaster first response skills at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Butlerville Indiana.
The Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package is a joint mission involving around 200 Air and Army National Guard members trained to respond to any natural or manmade disaster.
“This is the most rewarding mission I’ve done in my 19 years, it’s a different kind of gratification,” stated Captain Leanna Edwards, 181 IW Medical Group. “It’s nice to know we are a part of a big mission that serves the people of Indiana.”
Training and evaluation exercises are a primary way for Airmen to train and make connections with local EMS and other relief efforts personnel, just as they would in a real crisis.
“(We) reach out as much as possible to build relationships so that if there is an event it’s not the first time we meet, we have a working relationship already established,” stated Master Sgt. Sean Fretwell, 181 Intelligence Wing Medical Group.
“If we roll up to a scene with the Evansville Fire Department, we need to know each other’s capabilities,” stated Edwards.
The 181st IW is always prepared to work with the community to protect the nation and the state of Indiana.
“This training is done often, I feel it’s just going to be another exercise,” stated Fretwell.
“The CERF-P mission requires that we conduct two collective exercises with the other portions of our joint team and then every twenty-four to thirty-six months we are externally evaluated by a team from the National Guard Bureau,” stated Fretwell.