Specialty units participate in joint disaster training exercise

Photo By Sgt. Brian Johnson | Soldiers from the Chillicothe-based 1194th Engineer Company, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive EnhancedResponse Force Package, or CERF, discuss search and rescue tactics and procedures after leaving the debris looking for survivors.  

UNITED STATES

10.20.2008

Story by Spc. Brian Johnson 

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

By Spc. Brian Johnson
Ohio National Guard

PERRYSBURG, Ohio - In the metropolitan area of Toledo, the worst has happened. An earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale has shaken the city and the surrounding area. The earthquake can be felt all over the Eastern United States as far away as Maine and the Black Hills of South Dakota.

In less than one minute, roads are destroyed, buildings collapse and thousands of lives are shattered forever. In the hours that follow, more than 10,000 are confirmed dead and many more are injured.

Local, regional and state emergency management agencies request additional assistance from the governor of Ohio. To help in the rescue attempts and save lives, Joint Task Force 73 of the Ohio National Guard is activated.

Although the earthquake was just an exercise scenario, the training was very real for members of Joint Task Force 73, including the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERF-and the CERF's search and extraction element, the Chillicothe-based 1194th Engineer Company.

This exercise was unique for the 1194th for several reasons, said 1st Lt. Travis Ressler, the search and extraction team commander.

"In training exercises past, we have only had to work alone as part of the Ohio CERF," he said. "In this exercise, we had to work with many other groups to include civilian agencies as well as the different aspects of the Joint Task Force."

The team also dealt with a new type of scenario-hazardous materials spilt from railroad cars. The troops also had to respond to multiple casualties who needed to be rescued from building rubble piles, tunnels and sewer systems.

"We have been doing this type of rescue training for over a year and a half," Ressler said. "Each time we get to practice our skills at an exercise like this, we get that much more comfortable with our skills and learn something new."

Sgt. Justin Immell, a native of Bournville, said his Soldiers did an outstanding job accomplishing their mission.

"I have a squad of younger Soldiers. They are very knowledgeable and some of them are new to the team," he said. "The younger Soldiers were able to step up into leadership positions and even teach some of the veteran team members. Of the nine Soldiers in my squad, three received military decorations for the work that they did. My Soldiers did outstanding [work] this week."

"I was incredibly proud of how well we were able to adjust, what we learned and what the Soldiers and Airmen were able to accomplish," Ressler said. "I could not have asked for better mission buy-in and enthusiasm from them. The search and extraction team exceeded the standards and raised the bar for other groups to try to meet and exceed."

• Date Taken: 10.20.2008
• Date Posted: 10.20.2008 11:43
• Story ID: 25263
• Location: US