In the field: AF, Eglin test Airmen's skills with chemical response exercises

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  (Editor's note: This is the last of a three-part series on Air Force chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive training as it's managed and conducted at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The series will cover equipment, training and practical exercise.)

More than 50 Airmen lay burnt, torn open or struggling to breathe along the beach of Post'l Point, Dec. 1.

That was the scene when Eglin's first responders arrived after receiving a 911 call of a possible chemical attack and explosion on base. This exercise scenario was created to prepare first responders and more specifically the 96th Medical Group for a real-world chemical threat event.

Chemical, biological radiological, nuclear and explosive exercises are commonplace in the Air Force. At overseas bases like Korea, a CBRNE exercise takes place once a month and can last more than a week.

The bases shut down normal operations and focus solely on the exercise. Depending on Airmen's jobs, they could potentially be in chemical protection gear for 12 hours or more. CBRNE training begins less than three days after arrival on the Korean peninsula, according to Senior Master Sgt. Nyron Alexander, 96th Force Support Squadron who has two tours in Korea.

"Training is much more aggressive there," said the 21-year veteran. "They are the tip of the spear when it comes to chemical warfare training. You learn and are evaluated right away on how to wear and conduct your everyday mission in your chemical gear."

Eglin bridges the gap between the standard training and full-scale base CBRNE exercises. The Eglin plans and programs office initiates two CBRNE exercises for the base and the medical group per year.

The December exercise was a large-scale scenario with 58 victims.

First responders discovered a portable chlorine tank exploded sending toxic gas and shrapnel into a crowd of people. Security forces sealed the area, and firefighters determined contaminated and decontaminated zones.

Emergency medical technicians arrived and the firefighters decontaminated the victims who could walk before sending them into the "safe zone" triage area.

"Firefighters simulated hosing the victims down prior to medical attention," said Maj. Valla Fairley, 96th MDG exercise coordinator. "From there, our EMTs separated the victims into categories based on their medical needs."

The EMTs are an assigned team within the 96th MDG who trains together for disaster events like a chemical or biological attack.

There are 24 separate medical teams who must come together and respond in the event of a disaster or CBRNE incident. Airmen are assigned a team that they will train with upon arrival to a medical unit from technical school or a different base. The Airmen typically stay with that same team during their entire tour with a medical unit.

"This creates continuity within the teams even as people come and go," the major said. "The disaster response training is done as on-the-job training. It's not taught at our technical schools. Airmen learn from their teams and other specific classes."

The next 96th MDG team to spring to action was the decontamination team. Ambulances moved the victims to the hospital. A decontamination team of approximately 12 people went to work ensuring any chemical residue was flushed or scrubbed off the victims' clothes and bodies.

The most important aspect in the decontamination process is the safe and effective cleansing of the patient without compromise to the team or facility, according to Master Sgt. Christopher Newman, decontamination team chief.

There were three main sections of the decontamination process. They were clothes removal, wash and rinse, then dry. The tent was set up for litters and for victims who could walk.

Airmen on the decontamination team wore full-body multi-layer fabric composite suits with respirators while processing the victims through the sanitizing tent. The protective suit material provides more than 12 hours of protection against chemical warfare agents.

The MDG decontamination team is required to undergo seven different types of emergency, disaster and decontamination training and review it annually.

Upon leaving the tent, victims were moved to other areas for treatment based on their injuries. The exercise doesn't end until all the victims made it to their designated help center and were seen.

"All patients have to be seen and accounted for by the medical on-scene commander before we can end the exercise," said Major Fairley. "Accountability is imperative during these situations."

Evaluators follow each step of the exercises progression. The examiners are checking the Airmens' procedures and ensuring they're following their required checklists. If something is missed, evaluators step in to make sure nothing is left out.

"The evaluators are the experts of their area," the major said. "They're there to correct the mistakes, and they do, on the spot."

At the larger scale CBRNE exercises in Korea, an evaluator can "kill" Airmen for too many mistakes.

"It's about as real as it gets," said Sergeant Alexander, who's headed back to Korea next year. "If you break a seal or forget a detail, the evaluator will pull you out and say 'you're dead.' Everybody becomes a lethal weapon at that point."

The Air Force knows the CBRNE threats are real and have responded to the seriousness of the danger. The gear keeps Airmen alive, the training shows them how to stay alive and the exercises teach them how to save the lives of others.

"There is a real-world threat out there; we owe it to ourselves to have the best training and equipment available when we enter that danger zone," Sergeant Alexander said. "Arming our men and women with that critical knowledge that will see them through is the least we can do for them."