Photo By Staff Sgt. Sean McCollum | Members of the 23rd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction), Virgin Islands...... read more read more
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PONCE, Puerto Rico – Inside the rusted-out remains of an oil refinery here, two guard members look like they're exploring a crater on the moon. Carrying heavy air canisters and personal protective equipment that seal the wearer into a self-contained atmosphere, the two explorers tested puddles, took pictures, and left no stone unturned in establishing a safe perimeter against chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats before taking off their suits.
To the side, citizen-soldiers and civilians were taking notes, seemingly unworried about potential chemical threats.
The suited guard members were part of the 23rd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction), Virgin Islands National Guard, and were responding to contain the threat during a Field Training Exercise evaluation in Exercise Vigilant Guard.
Vigilant Guard 2009 is underway here this week testing the capabilities of more than 500 guard members from five states and territories to handle disasters and cooperate with federal, state and local partners.
Evaluating the 23rd CST is the 35th CST from the West Virginia National Guard as well as various guard members and contractors from National Guard Bureau.
"Until you can get out and really exercise with all the factions that play within these large emergencies, you can never really stress it to the point where you can find out where you need to do more training and [where] you need more resources," said Lt. Col. Kim Sencindiver, the acting branch chief for the Collective Training Branch of National Guard Bureau, who supervised the training.
Civilian authorities taking part included local police and firefighters, who gradually grew into the role of incident commanders that request the expertise of the CSTs. It was a learning experience for everyone.
"They were very excited from a civilian standpoint to be able to work with American forces because they do stuff just a little bit different than we do," said Sencindiver. "I think they are going to take away some good training opportunities from it. Likewise, it's good to see how they operate and to be able to adapt what we do to fit their needs."
Meanwhile, the West Virginians were providing advice to the Virgin Islanders as the evaluated Guardmembers set up their showers, looked for intelligence and finally found a terrorist's simulated weapons lab.
"We're just data evaluators and controllers making sure they're performing to their standards and to help them along if they have any trouble," said Sgt. 1st Class Stan Luikart, the communications chief for the 35th CST. "And if they're doing something one way, maybe give them suggestions on how to do it an easier way."
Having been through many of these training scenarios in his seven years in the 35th CST, Luikart found that even when considered a subject-matter expert and evaluator, there is always some new trick he can learn in exercises such as Vigilant Guard.
"There's always a better way to skin a cat," Luikart said. "It's neat to see other teams and how they do it, and give your suggestions."
Luikart's suggestions were directed to the communications truck, and Tech Sgt. Kenny Walcott, an information systems NCO with the 23rd CST. Together with the communications technician, Walcott's five different radios enable any member of the CST to contact a wide range of technical experts if there are questions about a substance.
"My main purpose is so [CST team members] can communicate with higher ups," Walcott said. "We maintain all radio traffic."
Walcott appeared highly qualified for the job.
"I've done 'comms' all my life," said Walcott. "It was a perfect fit. I was prior Army, transitioned to the Air Force, so when they had a team that was joint, I fit in perfectly."
With the mission of the CST requiring constant training and an on-scene response requirement of up to three hours, Walcott found exercises like this were another chance to get to know his coworkers.
"We're constantly training together, constantly spending time. I see them more than I see my family," Walcott said jokingly. "You build relationships, you build friendships. You build that trust."
With one more training exercise accomplished in a real-world scenario, that bond was further cemented, and the guard members returned to their temporary homes, with their evaluators satisfied they would be ready if the real thing came along.
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.25.2009 09:24 |
| Story ID: | 31578 |
| Location: | PONCE, PR |
| Web Views: | 325 |
| Downloads: | 293 |
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