Various groups and organizations participated in field training exercises during Tradewinds 2016 on June 9 through 11, in Grenada. The field training exercises, or FTXs, focused on preparing the island of Grenada for various disaster possibilities, which included tsunamis, emergencies and attacks by criminal organizations.
The first day of the scenario emphasized the capability and speed to activate the 911 system in Grenada. This included emergency services such as the police, firefighters and medical personnel.
This FTX was one of the scenarios for Tradewinds 2016, which is a joint combined exercise conducted in conjunction with allied and partner nations to enhance the collective abilities of defense forces and constabularies to counter transnational organized crime and to conduct humanitarian/disaster relief operations.
“We wanted to conduct operations to counter illicit traffic by improving partner nation’s capabilities,” said Lt. Col. Derwin Brayboy, the operations officer for the west division of Tradewinds 2016.
The training scenario began when the Black Mambas, a setting-based criminal organization, breached a fuel farm and set up improvised explosive devices, which started various fires and explosions.
Tradewinds officials used this exercise as a way to prepare the Regional Security Services members for the exercise’s big culminating event.
“This is important because it is real-world training,” Brayboy. “The partner nation building and the ability to test activating the 911 system were a couple of the most important things we are getting out of this.”
The second day of the FTX was a scenario involving a tsunami striking the East side of the island as volunteer members of the community responded to warnings by the local emergency responders by running to shelter on higher ground at St. Andrew’s Secondary School.
“Awareness is one of the key factors when is comes to saving lives and practicing as well,” said Kathy-Ann Morain, on of the organizers of the event and an employee of NaDMA. “So today we are working with all the stakeholders in the community so we can get them better prepared to deal with the effects and actually save their lives as it related to a tsunami attack. It is something that is real to us in Grenada and we believe that our vulnerable population, or the population in general should know exactly what to do once orders are given as it relates to tsunami warnings.”
The volunteers for the exercise came together from the local community to help make the event a success.
“It helps everyone so that they will know what to do in case of a tsunami,” said Nathan Thomas, a member of the Youth Emergency Action Committee and a volunteer tsunami survivor for the exercise. “If some things happen they will know what to do to help the family or the neighbor next door.”
Thomas’s job, along with a group of nearly 300 other volunteers, was to run to the nearest high point and make sure that those around him, those in his group, were safe.
“I needed to make sure that no one got left behind,” said Thomas. “That everyone made it to the highest point.”
Ever since hurricane Ivan struck and nearly decimated the small island, the people of Grenada have understood that the threats are real and many of the volunteers were a part of the exercise because of that disaster.
Thomas was no exception. He said he wanted to be involved now to “get more experience and more training and so that I can teach others”
The final day was a culminating FTX, throwing the two previous days into one, and thus demonstrating the skills and assets acquired through the practice. Through a larger scale mock disaster, participants were able to both learn what they could do, and learn where the disaster response system could be improved.
Through the hard work of many individuals, organizations and countries, the Tradewinds 2016 FTX was a successful learning experience for all those involved.
“Interest is high and persons are really keen on being a part of the activity and we are welcoming persons as it is an opportunity for them to know what to do in terms of saving their lives and the lives of their family and other community members,” said Morain.
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2016 13:01 |
| Story ID: | 201726 |
| Location: | GD |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Culminating Training Exercise focuses on disaster response, by SSG Anna Pongo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
