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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
May 13, 2008 - 8:38:40 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Sgt. Austin, Ryan, from Madison, Wis., assigned to the 54th Civil Support Team, a National Guard unit from Madison, checks his air intake meter of his chemical suit during a recent training exercise simulating a potential weapons of mass destruction chemical incident. Soldiers are a participating in Exercise Viking Shield 08, that brings together CST teams from four states and several federal and state governmental agencies. (Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Bell)(Released) |
EDINBURGH, Ind. - Using the latest research, chemical, and airborne detection technologies, Wisconsin Guardsmen, whom are trained to fight potential threats against homeland interests, cautiously approached a suspicious chemical spill to determine its lethalness.
Armed with full-body chemical suits and a gamut of sensitive equipment able to detect dangerous materials, Soldiers assigned to the 54th Civil Support Team, based out of Madison, Wis., spent several hours training for a future real-world situation - a practice they hope to never use.
Dubbed Exercise Viking Shield, Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center hosted a small quick-response team of Soldiers, Airmen and civilian first responders during an early morning "alert" March 26.
The simulated scenario, a joint civil support team exercise, sent the 20-person team from the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, located in southern Indiana, to a possible chemical spill here.
"These exercises provide great intermixing of different civil support teams from different states," said Sgt. 1st Class Dave Holmden, an observer controller with the 51st CST from Battle Creek, Mich. "We are all able to bring something to the table and learn from each other and take those lessons back to our units."
Briefings on the situation were quickly followed by construction of the decontamination site and other equipment that enabled the unit to fully accomplish the mission.
As day broke, it was apparent that the 54th CST was ready to attack the potential threat.
After initial equipment set up, a team-wide briefing was held to discuss any newly gained information, last-minute preparations, and final plans for the mission. Then a team of Soldiers was sent to the contaminated area.
Upon arriving to the "hot zone," two Level A hazardous material suit-clad Soldiers sampled the barrels, surrounding area and the inside of the truck for radiological and biological substances to be tested in the lab.
The CST possesses fully-stocked, specialized equipment for hazardous material detection and personnel decontamination. The unit also has two major pieces of equipment: a mobile analytical lab, which allows the team to identify and assess particular chemical and biological agents in the field, and a mobile communications vehicle that allows the team to coordinate communications among the first responders and all other areas.
"Exercises like this are important so we can test our equipment and work out the kinks," said Sgt. Mark Warren, member of the survey team for the CST. "We had some deficiencies today that we were able to get rid of so now we are more prepared for real world occurrences if we are needed."
Once the team of two Soldiers completed the mission in the "hot zone," they were immediately proceeded to state-of-the-art decontamination equipment at the staging area. Members of the medical team assessed the Soldiers after they were completely decontaminated.
"This exercise tries to simulate the real-world experiences these Soldiers might have as much as possible," said Alex Billingstea, an operational controller with Army North Midwest Division. "This is a 48-hour continuous operations exercise where everyone is on 24 hour shifts and completes multiple scenarios.
Billingstea said the biggest objective of the real-world simulation and long work hours is to create an environment were we can have everyone work together and pull resources to make the mission successful.
"So far, we are doing just that," he said.
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| Sgt. Mark Warren, from Madison, Wis., assigned to the 54th Civil Support Team, a National Guard unit from Madison, Wis., works to determine the level of decontamination during a recent training exercise simulating a potential weapons of mass destruction chemical incident. Soldiers are a participating in Exercise Viking Shield 08, that brings together CST teams from four states and several federal and state governmental agencies. (Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Bell)(Released) |
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