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Integrated Base Emergency Response Training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tori Schultz
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Team MacDill partnered up with the 44th Civil Support Team from Jacksonville, Fla. and Alliance Solutions Group during integrated base emergency response training May 15, 2014.

"Training consists of lectures, hands on practicals, and three exercise scenarios," said Tech. Sgt. Heather Bigler, 6th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineer flight technician. "Topics include evidence preservation, sampling techniques in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear environments, and performing health risk assessments for incident commanders."

Part of the bioenvironmental engineering flight's mission is to respond to emergency CBRN situations, such as suspicious packages or accidental chemical releases to identify health threats and assess risks.

The training is funded by the Air Mobility Command with the purpose of enhancing integrated emergency response capabilities.

"If major command funding allows, full-week response training occurs approximately every three to four years; however, base-level emergency management exercises occur at least annually and small-scope flight training occurs monthly to maintain proficiency in our unique mission," said Bigler.

Bioenvironmental engineering interacts with several outside agencies to include fire and emergency services, emergency management and the office of special investigations personnel.

"Integrated training is vital to ensuring that we all communicate and respond in a cohesive manner," said Bigler.

Due to the lack of some traditional roles performed by the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management flight at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., bioenvironmental engineering has the additional responsibilities of performing CBRN plume modeling and CBRN response tasks.

"Technical emergency response skills are highly perishable," said Bigler. "This training enhances our knowledge base and improves our risk communication skills.