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    VT State Police Bomb Squad trains with VTANG EOD

    Explosive ordnance trains with Vermont State Police

    Photo By Dan DiPietro | Vermont State Trooper Bomb Squad Sgt. Bill Sweenie and Senior Trooper Jake Metayer...... read more read more

    JERICHO, VT, UNITED STATES

    06.09.2015

    Story by Staff Sgt. Chelsea Clark 

    158th Fighter Wing

    JERICHO, Vt. - Two days, two teams training, and the continuous development of a working relationship. The Vermont State Police Bomb Squad and the Vermont Air National Guard Explosive Ordnance Disposal team held a joint exercise at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vt., in late May. While there the teams practiced their skills in scenario training, identifying and evaluating explosives and eliminating those hazards.

    Multiple scenarios were conducted at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site over the two day training. Each situation targeted a defined objective, utilizing training and resources available. Teams practiced in blind environments where they responded to a phone call request or information requiring their expertise. Exercises began with teams responding to the initial task, surveillance of the area and identifying the threat. During the scenario, participants honed their skills with their equipment and familiarized themselves with new gear. There was encouraged dialogue through the process for awareness and accuracy. Each action and response drove future scenarios, creating progressively challenging environments where teams could test each other’s skills.

    “We are fostering relationships, from day one we work on skills, training expertise and then we give feedback, critiquing each other,” said EOD Master Sgt. Christopher Derringer, an eight year veteran of EOD with two deployments to Afghanistan. “The training was an overwhelming success.”

    Members of the EOD team are required to complete nine months of technical training and maintain standards on a 300 item checklist to stay current in their expertise. The reportable training requirements and continuous evaluations differ within the VSP Bomb Squad, where participation is an additional duty. The VSP Bomb Squad use a six week base line course and have limited training because of its primary duty, not to mention members work all across the state of Vermont.

    Collaborative trainings began last fall and are projected to continue with several upcoming exercises including the Department of Homeland Security, Vermont National Guard Civil Support Team, and local law enforcement. Since each organization has its own particular mission, cross training offers a chance to recognize team objectives and how to address the situation simultaneously and safely, before an emergency occurs. This brings to light the importance of working together.

    “The ultimate goal is having seamless interaction when we work together,” Derringer said, “we are headed in the right direction, picking up steam and everyone will benefit.”
    The trainings build a mutual trust and respect for each organization and their knowledge base. Each exercise helps in the development of standard operating procedures through evaluating failures and shortfalls. Successful cross talk and discussing lessons learned will aid in the effectiveness of professional networking through a real world emergency. It creates interoperability among organizations and the further they train, the further they can benefit the community.

    Mission objectives and experience levels are different, rules and policies are specific to each organization and training creates a foundation for integration between the teams. Resources, time sensitivity, diagnostics and evidence collection are all part of the different mindsets. Understanding how each team responds to a scenario only benefits the goal of becoming interoperable and aids in solidifying the members’ own skills.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.09.2015
    Date Posted: 06.11.2015 15:51
    Story ID: 166302
    Location: JERICHO, VT, US

    Web Views: 335
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN