2nd CAB completes NEO exercise

Photo By Chung Il Kim | A Soldier from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade talks with a young noncombatant about his flight on a Ch-47 Chinook on Oct. 30 at the flight line on Camp Humphreys, South Korea.  

CAMP HUMPHREYS, 41, SOUTH KOREA

11.04.2015

Story by Pfc. Chung Il Kim 

2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – A CH-47F Chinook helicopter was fully packed with not Soldiers, but Army family members. When the engine started, a kid covered his ears with his hands and leaned toward his mother. As the Chinook lifted into the air, people began taking pictures to capture the exciting moment.

Family members, DoD civilians, and noncombatants from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade visited the Super Hangar on October 30 during the noncombatant evacuation operation training exercise, Courageous Channel. As a part of exercise, the training helps the noncombatants get familiar with the evacuation process during a real-world crisis such as a military conflict or natural disaster.

“We replicate what will happen when we evacuate non combative personnel out of the country,” said Capt. Guecheon Theobal, the support operations officer for the 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade.

The exercise did not only prepare community members for a potential evacuation, but also trains military personnel to execute the massive undertaking should a situation ever call for action.

“NEO gives an opportunity to let Family members learn the system and an opportunity for us to run the system,” said Theobal.

The 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade’s NEO training includes not only the administrative/document procedures, but also an opportunity to fly.

Sgt. Christopher Weinkel, a NEO Warden for the 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd CAB, helped civilians get on the helicopters.

“We perform military air flights with our Chinooks under the same process that would take place during an actual evacuation,” said Weinkel. “During the entire procedure, safety is foremost in our minds.”

Every year, the NEO staff continue to improve and fasten the process.

“Compared to last year, the entire procedure is way more efficient,” said Jennifer McBroom, the spouse of Capt. Philip McBroom, a 2nd CAB chaplain’s assistant. “NEO training is helpful, so we know what to expect in case of an emergency.”

"There are aspects of a real-world situation you just can't simulate, but we do our best to make sure what people see when they come into the NEO Center is almost the same as they would see in a real event," said Theobal. "Once this year's exercise is over we will go back and take lessons learned and continue to refine our process, so that we can evacuate everyone as safely and quickly as possible."

The exercise is planned to be good training and fun for the noncombatants. They were able to learn what needs to be done during a crisis, but also got to go out and fly in a helicopter which not a lot of people can say they do. It was definitely an exciting moment that most people wanted to capture with a photograph.

• Date Taken: 11.04.2015
• Date Posted: 11.04.2015 01:29
• Story ID: 180828
• Location: CAMP HUMPHREYS, 41, KR