Marine CBIRF prepares for the unexpected

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Montello | 1st Lt. Carlos Dinkins holds down Spc. Salvador Delarosa both with 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, during a wrestling match at FOB Warrior. The match was an event to celebrate the 146th birthday party for the regiment.  

05.13.2007

Courtesy Story

11th Public Affairs Detachment

By Pfc Brandon Pomrenke
11th Public Affairs Detachment

The scene at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center is one of severe distress. Battered and bleeding, innocent victims are being evacuated from their residences under the watchful eyes and care of a highly trained military unit.

The Field Training Exercise portion of Ardent Sentry/Northern Edge 2007 occurs after a 10-kiloton nuclear device has detonated in Indianapolis and a joint national task force has been assembled to treat and evacuate the wounded in surrounding areas.

The Marine Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force has entered the scene to evacuate 20 to 30 people from a senior citizens' home after the nuclear blast.

"Our responsibility is to search and evacuate between 20 and 30 casualties injured in the nuclear blast," said Marine Capt. Charles Atwood, an officer for the CBIRF team.

Victims in the residence experience injuries such as burns and blunt force trauma due to flying objects from the initial blast. The CBIRF extraction team, suited up for any chemical/radiological agents in the area, moves into the residence to begin the search for any victims.

Once located, the injured are carried outside on stretchers and wheeled carts to a collection point where initial first aid can be given, said Marine Capt. Kevin Misner.

"Once we finish there, we load them onto gaitor trailers to transport them to a full medical and decontamination area," Misner said.

The next step in the process, after evacuating the civilian victims, is to decontaminate the team members. CBIRF members proceed to a multiple-step decontamination area to experience the process where Marines, like Lance Cpl. Daniel Armstrong, help to clean their fellow service members of any chemical or radiological residue.

The exercise, although large in scale, is not the first joint service experience CBIRF has been involved in.

"We're located just outside of [Washington] D.C., so we have a good rapport with the local police and fire departments," Misner said. "We even had the chance to help provide security at President Ford's funeral service."

For this training, the Marines are given the opportunity to work with Army and Army National Guard, local police and fire departments, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other emergency services from Indiana that would be required in such a national disaster.

"We get to work through the whole evacuation and decontamination process here," said Atwood. "This event is a very good process for us."

• Date Taken: 05.13.2007
• Date Posted: 05.14.2007 15:35
• Story ID: 10370