Photo By Staff Sgt. Leon Cook | Col. Carolyn Jolitz, chief of clinical operations with Headquarters and Headquarters...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Terrorists have unleashed a biological attack at the University of New Mexico’s University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A resulting outbreak of pneumonic plague has crippled the city. In response, U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Task Force Civil Support mobilized the JBLM-based 62nd Medical Brigade to provide support in controlling the situation.
It may sound like the plot of a Tom Clancy novel, but this was the scenario played out in Exercise Vibrant Response, a JTF-CS exercise testing the task force’s Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Response Force’s ability to carry out its primary mission of rapidly deploying and supporting civil authorities in the event of a domestic CBRN incident.
The 62nd Med. Bde. assumed duty with the DCRF, Oct. 1.
“Our primary mission is to ensure the Task Force Medical arm of JTF-CS is fully capable of rapidly responding to a domestic CBRN event,” said Maj. Gen. Jonathan Treacy, JTF-CS commander. “The American people deserve nothing less than a rapid, decisive and compassionate response force focused on saving lives.”
Vibrant Response was a nationwide exercise held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, with exercises running simultaneously at JBLM and Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., where the JTF-CS is based.
Here on JBLM, the 62nd conducted its part of the exercise by holding a command post exercise at the Mission Command Training Capability facility.
“I believe it’s absolutely critical to have these exercises so we know what we need to work on,” said Pfc. Stacy O’Brien, a medic and clinical administrator with the brigade’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
A CPX allows units to test their administrative and command and control procedures. The exercise was an especially important one for the 62nd, as it allowed the brigade to certify its readiness to assume the DCRF mission.
“We’re testing our readiness capabilities and making sure we have the processes in place to respond effectively,” O’Brien said.
Although the CPX was for certification, it was still an opportunity to train.
“We’re always training and trying to better ourselves. It’s a nonstop process,” O’Brien said. “Since this is a new task for us, some of us are learning as we go.”
“We already had a wealth of information, but this exercise is teaching us even more and getting us ready for anything that may occur,” O’Brien said.
“We’re constantly critiquing our processes, so if something like the Albuquerque attack really happens, we’ll know exactly what to do and there will be no hesitation on our part,” O’Brien added.
Despite the long hours, the soldiers of the brigade remained focused and enthusiastic.
“As medics, we take our responsibility to save lives very seriously,” said Col. Theresa Schneider, commander of the DCRF’s Task Force Medical.
With the exercise’s conclusion, the 62nd Med. Bde. proudly took its place as a member of the Defense CBRN Response Force. The brigade stands ready to rapidly deploy and support civil authorities in the event of a domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or environmental event.
“I believe it’s critical to have these exercises, because we can never be too prepared to support our fellow Americans,” O’Brien said.
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.10.2011 18:12 |
| Story ID: | 79880 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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