AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 26, 2020 – Army units assigned to the Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Force (DCRF) conducted a decontamination line field training exercise at the Travis County Exposition Center, in Austin, Texas, Jan. 25 through 26.
The field training exercise, as part of Exercise Sudden Response 20, was held to test the ability of U.S. Army 546th Area Support Medical Company, U.S. Army 181st CBRN Company, and 87th Sapper Company to implement a decontamination line.
“All three companies make up the mass casualty decontamination line,” said U.S. Army Capt. Kareem McCombs, company commander of 181st CBRN Company, officer-in-charge of the mass casualty decontamination site. “We perform decontamination operations for radiation exposure, and look at the effects of fall-out.”
This event provides consistent real-life training for approximately 200 soldiers, building their proficiency in responding to CBRN incidents in the Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission.
“The training here is extremely valuable,” said McCombs. “It’s hard to replicate real-life training. For instance, we have real-world players that are processing through our decontamination line. That’s giving my soldiers the actual repetition they need.”
During the training, the companies assembled tents, donned hazard material suits, operated chemical wash stations, conducted waste water drainage and provided medical triage and evaluation stations for simulated disaster victims.
“If America’s worst day actual happened, we’re here to support the lead federal agency,” said McCombs. “When the federal agency is activated, we get to come out and support them as well. That’s what it’s all about, giving back to the community.”
Joint Task Force-Civil Support provides the command and control for the DCRF response elements and conducts training, evaluations, and supports validation exercises for technical support forces throughout U.S. Northern Command’s area of operation.
| Date Taken: | 01.25.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 01.28.2020 10:12 |
| Story ID: | 360639 |
| Location: | TX, US |
| Web Views: | 717 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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