Camp Buehring Command Cell carries out a large chemical exercise

Photo By Sgt. Spencer Rhodes | Staff Sgt. Tim Dolan communicates through a hand held radio at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, during a simulated chemical exercise, May 25. The exercise was one of the largest and most involved exercise in over two years.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

05.25.2010

Story by Spc. Spencer Rhodes 

53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait—Blistering heat permeates through the uniforms and suits of those outside participating in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear exercise at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Tuesday, May 25. The camp command cell, under the 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry Regiment, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Brigade Support Battalion North are carrying out one of the largest planned exercises in over two years.

According to Maj. Michael Stokes, Executive Officer for Brigade Support Battalion North, the planning for the recent exercise started over two years ago with units who have already finished their deployments in Kuwait and returned home. It took a great deal of cooperation to get everyone involved on the same page, and it involved the majority of Camp Buehring's residents.

"It's a Collaborative exercise with all the tenant units on Camp Buehring," said Stokes.

The exercise's main focus is a test of communication between all the Camp Buehring elements and how they react to a CBRN related incident. Both the civilian security force and the naval military police on camp put on protective masks and suits while directing traffic away from certain parts of the Camp. The resident EMT's responded to simulated casualties and injuries in numerous areas while reporting to the 1-153 Emergency Operations Center.

The DynCorp firemen played another crucial role in the simulated exercise by being in charge of decontamination of service members. They donned their gear, despite the overwhelming heat of the early afternoon, and practiced decontamination procedures with Soldiers from the 1-153.

Every security and medical force at Camp Buehring was involved in the event; it provides a better assessment of the camp's readiness as a whole for any dilemma. The quick reaction force, and the area reaction force, both under command of the 1-153 at Camp Buehring, were placed at strategic areas to maintain watch on anyone wishing to come into contaminated areas. Like the military police, they too would direct any vehicles driving in the wrong direction to a more secure area.

"With a lot of minute details going on in the exercise, the most important things are accounting for personnel and the accuracy and timeliness of reported information," said Stokes.

Maj. Joseph Lyons, the Executive Officer for Camp Buehring believes the exercise ended on a high note. The 1-153 has actively prepared for this since they arrived in theater and as expected, performed well. Communication, emphasized at the beginning as a crucial factor, remained strong throughout the day.

"This exercise now validates all the training on the standard operating procedures from all the agencies, and our ability to command and control in an intense environment," said Lyons.

The 1-153 will continue to conduct monthly exercises to maintain readiness throughout deployment, albeit on a much smaller scale and with less involvement from other branches and civilian contractors.

"The exercises allow the Camp Command and its units to maintain a high level of readiness for whatever comes," said Stokes.

• Date Taken: 05.25.2010
• Date Posted: 06.07.2010 11:04
• Story ID: 50993
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW