Juneau County START, ANG members conduct search and rescue operations at PATRIOT

Photo By Staff Sgt. Justin Andras | Members from the Juneau County Sheriff's Department Special Tactics and Response Team officers apprehend a suspect during mock exercises at Fort McCoy, Wis., during PATRIOT 2015 July 21, 2015. The team was working in collaboration with Air National Guard members from various units. PATRIOT is an annual exercise held at Volk Field to test the National Guard’s capabilities and develop working relationships with first responders and government agencies. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Justin Andras/Released)  

VOLK FIELD, WI, UNITED STATES

07.21.2015

Story by Senior Airman Justin Andras 

122nd Fighter Wing

FORT MCCOY, Wis. – When natural disasters strike there is limited time to react and in that time actions can be critical to survival. After a disaster has passed one can be faced with injuries, lack of power or water, and a general sense of despair; however, the National Guard is always prepared to respond when people need them the most.

Members of the Juneau County Sheriff’s Department Special Tactics and Response Team and members of the Air National Guard have trained to respond to these kinds of disasters with swiftness and authority through mock scenarios conducted during the PATRIOT 2015 exercise, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, July 23.

“The biggest advantage of these exercises is that it allows increased interoperability between military and civilians,” said Master Sgt. Tony Hall, a joint terminal attack controller from the 118th Air Support Operations Squadron, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Participants conducted search and rescue scenarios and were tasked with searching buildings for injured civilians who may be in need of assistance and require medical attention. At one point in the exercise a START member was fictionally injured with a ruptured femoral artery and was airlifted to a medical facility for care.

“Our role in this scenario is to provide a communication relay between military and civilian members and act as a controlling facility for aircraft such as Civil Air Patrol vehicles and medical evacuation aircraft,” said Hall.

Hall also described additional benefits that the role of the participating individuals have for the exercise.

“We can conduct search and rescue operations, allowing us to get into remote areas, and facilitate the relays between military and civilian assets,” said Hall.

Predicting when a natural disaster may strike is nearly impossible; however, through good advance preparation injuries and fatalities can be minimized. START and military members know that through these practiced scenarios they can provide the needed help in a time of need.

“With the nature of nature disasters, whether man-made, storm, or terrorist attack, the only way to prepare is to practice,” said Hall.

• Date Taken: 07.21.2015
• Date Posted: 07.24.2015 10:35
• Story ID: 171021
• Location: VOLK FIELD, WI, US