122nd FW Completes CBRN Exercise with Army National Guard

Photo By Airman 1st Class Halley Clark | U.S. Army Sgt. Jeremy Giddens, 53rd Civil Support Team survey team member, swabs an unknown white powder during an exercise at the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Feb. 27, 2024. This event occurred during a weapons of mass destruction practice drill coordinated with the 53rd Civil Support Team and the 122nd Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Halley Clark)  

FORT WAYNE, IN, UNITED STATES

02.29.2024

Story by Airman 1st Class Halley Clark 

122nd Fighter Wing

FORT WAYNE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ind. — The 122nd Fighter Wing (FW) teamed up with the 53rd Civil Support Team, part of the Indiana National Guard, to practice chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) response procedures at the 122nd FW on Feb. 27, 2024. During this exercise, individuals from each unit practiced their skills in a controlled environment, testing their agility and refreshing their knowledge.

In a weapons of mass destruction incident, the 53rd CST is always ready to be deployed, and in these life-or-death situations, a foundation of teamwork with units like the 122nd FW is crucial.

"Our [emergency management] flight here is equipped to handle hazmat events," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brent Carlisle, the 122nd FW emergency manager. "But we don't encounter them as frequently as the CST does. So, it's a good opportunity to share best practices and anything that might help us bolster our response if, in the worst case, we get faced with such a scenario."

U.S. Airmen, Soldiers and federal civilian employees simulated a suspicious powder report during one event. Two Soldiers assigned to the 53rd CST, serving as survey team members, Staff Sgt. Joshua Creech and Sgt. Jeremy Giddens, responded by swiftly donning personal protective equipment and gathering their gear bags.

With Creech and Giddens' hands encapsulated in disposable gloves, U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Dustin Foreman, 53rd CST team leader, offered to finish zipping their suits. Foreman then quickly checked that no skin was showing and sent them on their way. As gas masks now muffled Creech and Giddens' mouths, they raised their voices and made hand gestures toward the suspicious powder's location.

After some short travel, they were face-to-face with the mysterious white substance. Immediately recognizing the issue, they documented the scene and opened their cases, revealing an arsenal of equipment. Cotton swabs, chemical solutions and radiological detectors were soon swiped, dripped and beeped with precision.

It was just as they suspected: ricin, a poison that can lead to death or illness.

However, the mission of the 53rd CST and similar units is much more than ricin-related incidents. Carlisle explained that the scope of the 53rd CST is broad, as they have augmented law enforcement at football games, large Indiana events, fairs, concerts and various other state activities. If there is potential for an attack or a weapon of mass destruction event, they are present and ready to help.

"I think it's a great opportunity," said Carlisle. "We look forward to pairing with CST if the opportunity presents itself in the future, and we'll continue to reach out to them."

• Date Taken: 02.29.2024
• Date Posted: 03.18.2024 13:21
• Story ID: 465147
• Location: FORT WAYNE, IN, US