EM, Bio train as emergency response duo

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ceaira Tinsley
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Moody's emergency response duo teamed up and donned their Level A chemical suits and rubber boots during an integrated base emergency response capability training here March 16-20.

Airmen from the 23d Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management flight and the 23d Medical Group bioenvironmental flight partnered to receive classroom instruction as well as participate in three hands-on scenarios. The training required both flights to arrive on scene after the first responders and determine potential chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

"The scenarios [and training] that we have been doing this week are intended to test our capability of inner operability between ourselves, bioenvironmental, fire emergency services and (explosive ordnance disposal)," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brandi Baker, 23d CES NCO in charge of EM. "It essentially tried to take us out of our comfort zone and ensure that we can do what we need to do in a real world operation. It took us to the next level so [it's] not just [one of] the regular exercises that we do here on our home station but more of what we would see in a real world environment."

The emergency response training was a more in depth exercise and in more than one way it was unlike other exercises usually executed on base. One example of this is the starting point began in a uniquely different way.

"The scenarios are an opportunity for the hazmat team to go farther than they usually get to go because most Air Force exercises end around the time (bioenvironmental and emergency management) would begin their actual job," said Chris Hosman, Alliance Support Group, senior emergency management specialist. "We kind of pick up at that point where they normally would be ending and then guide them through the rest of the response part to learn how to approach the scene and identify whatever the hazard is and then also take some samples. (Afterwards) they provide all of that information back to the incident commander who makes recommendations for public protective actions."

Combined, these two flights make up the Air Force's emergency responders and hazmat team. By pairing their skills and abilities together it makes them both more efficient and knowledgeable about one another's roles and capabilities.

"The Air Force level has decided that their skills complement each other for the accurate detection, identification and quantification of hazmat materials so they (should) work together with their strengths to do the best job," said Hosman. "They each have a very key role, and they could just stay in their lanes but the handoff [of information] would be rougher."

Baker echoed Hosman's beliefs. "It was a great opportunity for us to actually be able to test our knowledge and their knowledge of each other's equipment and how it works.

"The first day we had a couple of issues with some of the equipment not working ... and we used each other's equipment," said Baker. "Because we already had that relationship with the other entities it was very easy for us to borrow from each other. If they didn't have a power cord, we had a power cord; if their radios were down then we used ours."

Although the two flights may be from different squadrons and groups, this exercise allotted them the opportunity to train side by side and supplement each other's skills.

"The comments that we've gotten in the past from other teams really solidify the fact that they don't get a chance to work together with this level of detail on a regular basis," said Hosman. "It's like anything else that you do; the more times you practice it the more it becomes first nature. There's a saying in the civilian world: 'At the scene of a disaster is a bad time to be exchanging business cards.' You need to meet these people and know how to work together before you get to a disaster."

Not only is knowing the capabilities of your counterparts imperative, but it is equally important that the training participants take advantage of the chance to train together. A real world situation will not happen every day but when it does they need to be ready.

"Most of the time that they get called out it's a false alarm," said Hosman. "Most of the time they don't really have a positive result and so they can tend to get [complacent] and think that it's just another false alarm. [During this training] we try to help them think through the possible threats and challenge their thinking. In fact, sometimes we actually setup things in the scenarios that are rabbit trails just to distract them so they can realize that you're supposed to be doing an all hazards approach."

Although the scenarios were challenging, one Airman was proud of the obstacles they overcame, the overall outcome of the week and the relationships built.

"There are a lot of pieces that mesh together from all of these different agencies to ensure that the whole picture is covered, not just one piece [and] I think we've done an excellent job so far," said Baker. "We've had a couple of challenges but we have adapted and overcome them. I'm very happy with the way that our flights have worked together and the relationships that we have."

As the weeklong exercise wrapped up, Hosman said he hopes every participant walks away with more confidence in their knowledge and abilities and a greater understanding on of the importance of integration between the two flights.