Photo By Staff Sgt. Caitlyn Byrne | Spc. Kammi Holt (right), 690th Chemical Company, Alabama National Guard, Task Force...... read more read more
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CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - In a wide, secluded grass field, near Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Indiana, bright yellow and white tents sit beneath a vivid blue sky. The atmosphere is busy but calm, despite the heavy in-flow of role players taking on the job of radiation and nuclear blast victims, Alabama National Guard Soldiers of the 690th Chemical Company, Task Force 46 take it all in stride, providing each simulated victim with proper decontamination care during the Vibrant Response 14 training exercise, Aug 2.
Vibrant Response 14 is a major field training exercise conducted by US Northern Command and led by US Army North. Approximately 5,700 service members and civilians from the military and other federal and state agencies throughout the country are training to respond to a catastrophic domestic incident. As a component of U.S. Northern Command, Army North coordinates timely federal military response to disasters in the homeland to help the American people in time of need.
One Alabama National Guardsman in particular could be said to exemplify the 690th spirit of training hard and doing your job; that Soldier’s name is Spc. Kammi Holt, an active participant in Vibrant Response 14.
Holt is 23 years old and has been in the Alabama National Guard since December of 2011. Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Holt has enjoyed her time serving under the 690th Chemical Company and said, “I love my MOS (military occupational specialty), 74D (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist) and my unit is like a team and a family. We all get along really well together, and I have a ton of respect for my NCOs (noncommissioned officers).”
CBRN specialists undergo rigorous training exercises, and Holt said that she and her unit trained often to remain competent and qualified. “When it comes to a person’s life, we have to be ready to respond,” Holt said.
A CBRN specialist’s primary job is to defend the country against the threat of CBRN weapons and weapons of mass destruction. It is their job to assist in the establishment of CBRN defense measures as well as the operation and maintenance of CBRN detection and decontamination equipment.
Assigned to the technical station in the CBRN center that she and her unit constructed, Holt described her duties in Vibrant Response 14, “The people who need medical care and have been exposed to the blast or contamination will come through our tents to be decontaminated. They go through the showers first. We will then check them for remaining decontamination and if they are clear, we’ll remove any of their contaminated clothing and send them on
to medical.”
Responding to such a large and volatile event as the detonation of a nuclear explosion requires a lot of training and a concentrated amount of effort. “Training has been hard; it is very physical and demanding. It takes all of you,” said Holt. “But even if I didn’t have to do this mission I would still do it. Because we’re guard, everybody wants a job, and we like keeping busy. We’re trained for this mission; so we’re ready.”
It’s not just Holt who says that they are ready to do their jobs; numerous Soldiers spoke out about their excitement at getting to be a part of Vibrant Response 14. PFC Jonita Watkins, 690th Chemical Company, Alabama National Guard and a native of Foley, Alabama, said, “We take it all (referring to Vibrant Response 14). We get really hands on and if you’re not working, you’re not doing.”
Watkins often works alongside Holt, and the two agreed that their job comes with a lot of adversity, yet no matter what situation they are faced with they aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
Sgt. Justin Lee, also of the 690th Chemical Company and a Mobile, Alabama native, commended Holt on her strong performance in the Alabama National Guard. “Holt is an outstanding Soldier,” Lee said. “She’s highly motivated and is always doing the right thing.”
Holt is part of a unit that is determined to do more than simply get through the day. Holt plans to do her unit proud by continuing to perform at the highest level in a military specialty that she is truly passionate about. “My goals for being in the guard are to become a better Soldier. For me, all you need to do to be a good Soldier is to focus on your MOS, do your just, and be the best that you can be.”
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2014 14:06 |
| Story ID: | 138137 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | MOBILE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 494 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 'We take it all': Specialist of 690th Chemical Company shares her experiences, by SSG Caitlyn Byrne, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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