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    SPMAGTF-SC completes evacuation operations training

    CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

    05.10.2018

    Story by Sgt. Booker Thomas 

    U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

    Approximately 60 Marines and sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command learned what goes in to running an evacuation control center as part of the unit's Certification Exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 10.

    The Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF-SC were evaluated by the Expeditionary Operations Training Group to ensure they are prepared to respond to humanitarian aid crises prior to their mobilization to Central America this summer.

    “This is the fourth iteration of SPMAGTF-SC Marines conducting ECC operations training,” said Gunnery Sgt. Blake Poindexter, operations chief for SPMAGTF-SC. “The first two were static and without Spanish-speaking or host-nation role players. The last two, we were able to work with role players to simulate a scenario as close to real life as possible.”

    The scenarios took into account real life considerations such as assigned cities in SPMAGTF-SC’s areas of operation, plausible disasters and processing large amounts of anxious individuals.

    “Today, we are notionally providing response to an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 that devastated the surrounding area of Guatemala City,” said Poindexter. “We are coordinating and executing the evacuation of over 100 American civilians and foreign nationals through a local elementary school.”

    Comprised of a few stations, an ECC is designed to move individuals from danger to a forward, safe location designated ahead of time.

    “The reception area is established to receive and verify the identity of individuals through a proprietary system and the Department of State,” said Poindexter. “Hospital corpsmen are on staff at the medical aid station to treat any life-threatening injuries.” And finally, “for those who’ve been processed and are awaiting departure, the embarkation station is there to provide basic needs.”

    Through SPMAGTF-SC’s four iterations of ECC operations training, the unit was able to identify and remedy certain common problems associated with this type of operation.

    “By implementing Spanish-speaking role-players we quickly realized the importance of designating who in our team could fluently speak the language,” said Poindexter. “There was an immediate difference, for the better, of the operations once we found those Marines and made sure there was at least one at every station to communicate with those we were processing.”

    “Another roadblock we were able to overcome was establishing a good command and control cell,” said Poindexter. “The Marines were manifesting the individuals but were not effectively directing them to their next stations. To correct this, we assigned escorts to smooth the process out. This allows the process to move faster to ensure that we’re able to evacuate citizens the best we can.”

    This fourth iteration was the culminating event for SPMAGTF-SC’s ECC training and their final practical application of those skills prior to mobilization.

    “Our wish remains that we never have to use our training in a real-world scenario'" said Poindexter. "However; if the need arises, SPMAGTF-SC is fully capable of and confident in conducting evacuation control center operations.”

    After this final exam, SPMAGTF-SC now stands ready to mobilize to Central and South America this summer where they will support those nations with humanitarian assistance should the need arise.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.10.2018
    Date Posted: 05.15.2018 09:21
    Story ID: 276963
    Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US

    Web Views: 27
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN