Emergency Exercise at Arifjan

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez | Staff Sgt. Adam Long, a team leader with the 741st Ordnance Company briefs his team at an emergency response exercise August 29 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The multi- faceted exercise was used to test the readiness and capabilities of the emergency response teams on base. The event allowed different organizations within ASG-K, U.S. Army Central and the Kuwaiti military to work together. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez)  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

08.29.2016

Story by Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez 

U.S. Army Central   

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Sirens blared throughout the base. There were reports of a traffic accident involving a fuel truck. Within the hour, a suspicious package was called in causing emergency response personnel to report to different scenes.
“Exercise, exercise, exercise,” said an austere voice over the loud speakers on base.
Area Support Group-Kuwait hosted an emergency response exercise August 29 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
The multi-faceted exercise was used to test the readiness and capabilities of the emergency response teams on base.
The event allowed different first responders from ASG-K and U.S. Army Central to work together alongside Kuwaiti military personnel.
“It’s important that all the different agencies work together on post and have all the resources they need if something really bad happens here” said Maj. Gen. William Hickman, the deputy commanding general-operations of USARCENT. “We’re training Soldiers. All the units come here to train and take it back to their home station. [This training] helps Arifjan in case we do have an accident; we’re able to react as quickly as possible”
Military police, firefighters, explosive ordnance disposal personnel, hazmat specialists and the combat support hospital all had key roles during the event. Kuwaiti citizens acted as casualties and observers during the scenarios while a U.S. Marine unit from Al Jaber flew Kuwaiti casualties between the hospital at Arifjan and the Kuwait Military Hospital.
“We’re building partnerships and creating an exercise that incorporates all of the emergency responders,” said Capt. Kurt Boehm, the Director of Emergency Services at Camp Arifjan and native of Palmdale, California. “We’re testing the interoperability and responsiveness of the entire emergency response community.”
The first scene, a traffic accident, called for firefighters and a team of hazmat specialists from the 369th Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Company, to decontaminate the scene and several casualties.
“It was a pretty easy transition,” said Sgt. 1st Class Markeil Smith, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the CBRN team during the exercise. “We were easily able to change over with the firefighters so they can go to another site.”
Concurrently, a potential roadside bomb was spotted near a dining facility. A team from the 741st Ordnance Company joined the on-scene military police and Criminal Investigation Command personnel to resolve the situation.
Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Jensen, the NCOIC for the EOD team, said these types of scenarios are especially important here to keep different skill sets to standard.
Casualties, from the local exercise and from other military facility exercises in Kuwait, went through the Combat Support Hospital on base. Col. Kimberlee Aiello, the hospital commander, said the 10th CSH worked with all the personnel involved to treat the casualties ensuring our host nation, our sister services and our Army units had a true-to-life experience.
“Our main job is to protect the force,” said Capt. Loyd Michael, a nurse in the 10th CSH and native of Denver, Colorado. “We defend those that are on the front lines. If we’re not ready to do this type of mission, then we cannot protect the ones that are defending [us].”

• Date Taken: 08.29.2016
• Date Posted: 09.02.2016 11:43
• Story ID: 208773
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW
• Hometown: DENVER, CO, US
• Hometown: PALMDALE, CA, US