Photo By Sgt. Joseph Bitet | Army Staff Sgt. Julia Stearns (left) and Spc. Stephen Sprague (right), 563rd Military...... read more read more
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - With the catastrophic events that are currently unfolding in Japan, no training can be more relevant than Vibrant Response 11.1, a training exercise conducted from March 11-19 in North Vernon, Ind., where a simulated nuclear “dirty bomb” detonated on U.S. soil allowed military forces to proficiently train for such a crisis, encountering displaced civilians, overturned vehicles, wrecked buildings and overall chaos.
During Vibrant Response 11.1, numerous military units came together to comprise the CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, high-yield Explosive) Consequence Management Response Force under Joint Task Force Civil Support, a standing joint task force headquartered at Fort Monroe, Va., specifically tasked with assisting civil authorities in the event of a CBRNE situation. The task force’s mission is to assist local, state and federal authorities during recovery operations to save lives, prevent further injury, and provide critical support to enable community recovery. JTF-CS is an integral part of our nation’s ability to recover from a catastrophic nuclear incident.
Members of the 563rd Military Police Company, an active duty unit from Fort Drum, N.Y., conducted wellness patrols throughout the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, which simulates the conditions in a city after a nuclear attack. The MP’s were tasked with measuring contamination levels, providing medical assistance to those in need, and making sure food and water was readily available.
Throughout the exercise, the MPs took protective measures to detect for radiation by using a Geiger counter device.
“In order for us to help civilians we have to make sure we are safe,” said Staff Sgt. Paul Mitchell, 563rd MP Company platoon sergeant. “This is among the best training we have received.”
While patrolling, the MP’s encountered numerous casualties with different injuries, requiring varying degrees of medical aid. Led by the expertise of Pfc. Robin Edelen, a medic in the 563rd, the soldiers were able to complete their mission of assisting the displaced and injured civilians. Contracted civilians realistically play the roles of local residents, who are dealing with the medical and personal trauma of being exposed to a nuclear explosion, testing the patience and interpersonal skills of the soldiers.
“It’s a confusing and challenging situation,” said Edelen. “If we rely on the training that we have done, it simplifies the task.”
In order to make sure the training stays relevant, observer controller trainers were riddled throughout the area to inject training scenarios and instruct the units.
“The training is top-notch,” said Army Capt. Eduardo Figueroa, an OC-T for the exercise. “The unit is living the training.”
Other factors such as simulated media are placed on the disaster site to observe the reaction and interaction between soldiers and the press.
“After observing my soldiers perform their tasks in the exercise, I am confident in their abilities to perform the tasks in live missions,” said Lt. Paul Brodzick, a platoon leader with the 563rd. “They demonstrated good teamwork and proficiency in their jobs.”
As long as the soldiers of the 563rd MP Company continue to train in an intense and real life manner, as they did during Vibrant Response 11.1, they will remain ready to support civil aid missions both foreign and domestic.
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2011 12:02 |
| Story ID: | 68155 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 359 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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