Video by Staff Sgt. Rebecca Wood, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky National Guard
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbEyXPzWv5w]
Story by Spc. Brandy Mort, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky National Guard
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Guardsmen assigned to the Kentucky Chemical Radiological Nuclear High-Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package stabilize a mock casualty during training May 23 at Muscatatack Urban Training Center, Butlerville, Ind. (U.S. Army Photo by Pfc. Lerone Simmons, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky Army National Guard).
Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Butlerville, Ind. -- The Kentucky National Guard’s Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear high-yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package is a mouthful, even for its members. But whether they wear Army ACUs or Air Force ABUs, the Guardsmen assigned to the CERFP are “one team, one fight,” according to 1st Lt. Amy Holmes.
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“During our training, we have the opportunity to get to know our whole team,” said Holmes, an Air Guard nurse assigned to the 123rd Airlift Wing, and CERFP member. “Our practice has helped us to become a cohesive unit in case a CBRNE incident ever occurred.”
After more than a year training to react to a CBRNE attack or incident, the CERFP spent May 21-25 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Butlerville, Ind., validating with observer controller teams from the Joint Interagency Training and Education Center based in West Virginia.
Some of Kentucky’s senior enlisted members watched as the CBRNE team completed the walk phase of their CERFP evaluation.
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Staff Sgt. Matthew Park, Observer Control Trainer with the Joint InterAgency Training & Education Center gives instructions on how to properly transport a casualty to Kentucky National Guardsmen assigned to the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear High-Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package training May 23 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Butlerville, Ind. (U.S. Army Photo by: Pfc. Lerone Simmons, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky Army National Guard).
“The CERFP team displayed professionalism and teamwork as they worked side by side to complete the overall mission,” said Command Sgt. Maj. David P. Munden, Senior Enlisted Advisor at Joint Force Headquarters. “It is good to see Kentucky’s National Guard working together.”
The Air Force and Army Guardsmen worked together from the very beginning of their CERFP training. For a lot of Soldiers and Airmen alike, this was their first time working together.
“Before this training, I had never worked with the Air Force component before,” said Pfc. Crystal Belcher, CBRNE specialist with the 103rd Chemical Battalion.
The CERFP is broken into three teams. The Army Guard 299th Chemical Company provides decontamination, while the Army Guard's 301st Chemical Company provides search and extraction. Members of the Air Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing and some of the Army Guard members both provide medical assistance.
“It is a lot of fun to work with my Army counterparts,” said Airman 1st Class Samantha Crump, a dental tech with the 123rd Airlift Wing, “Both services train in different ways, so when we come together, it is a good time to learn from each other and make our selves better as a team.”