Photo By Brian Dietrick | Soldiers assigned to the 155th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 7th Sustainment Brigade...... read more read more
FORT EUSTIS, Va. – Joint Task Force Civil Support conducted a no-notice deployment readiness exercise (DRE) Feb. 11 to ensure the unit’s preparedness to support local first responders in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear disaster.
The Fort Eustis, Va.-based unit measured its deployment procedures and processes to identify any logistical or capabilities shortfalls. The DRE also validated its response timelines in an effort to minimize the time needed to respond to a man-made or a natural disaster in the United States, within two hours of notification.
“The DREs ensure the command is at a higher level of readiness for the events in order to respond rapidly to an incident in accordance with established guidelines,” said U.S. Marine Col. David Olszowy, deputy commander, JTF-CS. “Periodic DREs, whether they are deliberate or no-notice evaluations, will help instill and reinforce an expeditionary mindset throughout the command.”
After the notification of a simulated earthquake in Sacramento, Calif., JTF-CS members received a mission brief, inspected and loaded bags, packed vehicles and accounted for personnel to confirm readiness within the two-hour window.
“This DRE went really well,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Elizabeth Hamilton, manpower and personnel noncommissioned officer, JTF-CS. “Working with the logistics section on the deployment processing, and the different directorates with strength reports and manifests, was smooth. Doing these exercises routinely will definitely make us respond faster.”
After inspections, responders split up into deployment teams, loaded personal bags into the vehicles, conducted a convoy brief and awaited the order to deploy.
Soldiers assigned to the 155th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 7th Sustainment Brigade (expeditionary), assisted in transporting JTF-CS equipment to the simulated incident site.
“Everything was very smooth,” said Michael Collins, chief of staff, JTF-CS. “The movement of personnel and equipment was very organized and that enables a faster response.”
JTF-CS plans to conduct additional DREs in the coming months.
“These exercises give us the opportunity to hone our deployment procedures and processes to ensure that we are prepared for rapid deployment at all times,” said Olszowy.
As with any response, time is a critical factor –the quicker the response, the quicker life-saving and life-sustaining personnel and equipment can be employed. Regular exercises to test the command’s response ability will help ensure readiness and create muscle memory for the staff, according to Olszowy.
JTF-CS anticipates, plans, and prepares for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Support of Civil Authorities (CBRN-DSCA) response operations. Although CBRN incident response is the command’s primary focus, the unit also has the expertise and training to respond to natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes.
In November 2012, JTF-CS rapidly deployed to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., in support of Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. During the command’s two week deployment, JTF-CS coordinated a variety of federal military support to aid relief efforts, including 80 strategic airlift missions conducted by the Air Mobility Command, 600 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel currently pumping 11 tunnels and waste water treatment plants in both New York and New Jersey and more than two million meals delivered by the Defense Logistics Agency.
For additional information on JTF-CS, visit us online at: www.jtfcs.northcom.mil or www.facebook.com/jtfcs.
| Date Taken: | 02.11.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 02.15.2014 20:44 |
| Story ID: | 120709 |
| Location: | FORT EUSTIS, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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