Active CBRN response training keeps Laughlin agencies proficient

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Steven R. Doty
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Laughlin personnel from the 47th Fire Emergency Services flight, 47th Readiness and Emergency Management Flight and the 47th Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight took part in a joint unit training event here, June 17, 2014.

The units involved were unaware of the events that were to take place that day.

At 8 a.m., the firehouse received a call from Tech. Sgt. Kandice Norton, 47th Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency management flight NCO in charge and exercise coordinator, role playing as a security forces member that initiated the response sequence.

"This was realistic training that allowed all three agencies an opportunity to work together on an active chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear response or unknown hazardous material event," said Norton. "We were able to gather a sense of what each agency brings to the fight and ensure that the plans that we have put together are still valid and applicable."

The training did not serve to present a pass or fail assessment, rather a measure of improvement for the response capability of an active CBRN response here at Laughlin.

"This training was being evaluated from the stand point of feedback," said Norton. "We had subject matter experts from the different agencies that could sit back, without all the gear, and say 'this is what I saw, does it work, where can we improve and are there other areas that require training?'"

From notification to completion of the event, personnel are at their best. They are expected to make mistakes, but they are expected to learn from them.

"Practical exercises allow us to validate our plans and response checklists," said Norton. "They also allow us to evaluate our response times, equipment function, and in-house training and certification plans."

In the end, it was evident that, like all processes on Laughlin, the personnel assigned to stand up and face these disasters head-on, are among the best. It's a reassurance that the service members and their families assigned to Laughlin are in extremely capable hands whenever that call to the station is more than just an exercise.

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