An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

National GuardAlways Ready Always There

National Guard

                - 

Search

Search
Search

-  Home		 
-  News    -  Guard News         
  -  Overseas Operations         
  -  State Partnership Program         
  -  News Features         
  -  RSS Feeds         
  -  Press Releases         
  -  Transcripts 
-  Features    -  Features by Year         
  -  Posture Statement         
  -  State Partnership Program         
  -  Special Features 
-  About the Guard    -  How We Began         
  -  Air National Guard         
  -  Army National Guard      -  DEERS Soldier Journey         
    -  Leader Development Program 
  -  History and Heritage         
  -  I am the Guard         
  -  NGB Official March 
-  Leadership    -  CNGB         
  -  VCNGB         
  -  SEA         
  -  DANG         
  -  DARNG         
  -  Joint Staff      -  J-1         
    -  J-2         
    -  J-3         
    -  J-4         
    -  J-5         
    -  J-6         
    -  J-7         
    -  J-8         
    -  Personal Staff        -  Inspector General         
      -  General Counsel         
      -  Public Affairs         
      -  Executive Support Services         
      -  Legislative Liaison 
    -  Special Staff        -  National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel         
      -  Office of the Provost Marshal         
      -  Office of the Joint Surgeon         
      -  Director of Acquisitions         
      -  Small Business Programs         
      -  Chaplain         
      -  Senior Leader Management Office         
      -  Diversity Equity Inclusion 
    -  Comptroller 
-  Resources    -  National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance         
  -  Community Engagement         
  -  FOIA         
  -  Fact Sheets         
  -  Helpful Links         
  -  Image Gallery      -  News Images         
    -  Graphics         
    -  Historical Paintings 
  -  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion         
  -  Legislative Liaison         
  -  Small Business Programs         
  -  Social Media         
  -  State Websites         
  -  Videos      -  Featured Videos         
    -  On Every Front         
    -  2019 Videos         
    -  2020 Videos         
    -  2021 Videos 
  -  Suicide Prevention         
  -  Family Programs         
  -  Environmental         
  -  Trial Defense Service         
  -  Holistic Wellness Challenge 
-  Contact Us		 

Home : News : Article View

PHOTO INFORMATION

** Download

** Details

** Share

# Oklahoma Guard trains with Midwest City Fire Department

By Staff Sgt. Brian SchroederOklahoma National Guard

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. - The 63rd Civil Support Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, trained with the Midwest City Fire Department to increase agency interoperability, share best practices and streamline response efforts for hazardous material spills.

During the training scenario Nov. 19, the Midwest City Fire Department responded to an industrial metal workshop notionally damaged by a tornado. The firefighters surveyed the damaged area to locate potential chemical spills. Once hazardous materials were identified, the 63rd CST was called in to help further identify and remove any chemical hazards.

Domestically, the Oklahoma National Guard typically serves during natural disaster response missions, such as flooding or tornadoes. Staff Sgt. Willard Casey, 63rd CST team chief, said being on the CST is a new way to help his local community when a different type of disaster strikes.

“I get to work with other fire departments and their hazardous material teams and see how civilian agencies respond compared to how we respond,” Casey said. “It is unique to see our military and civilian working relationship play out in training scenarios and real-world scenarios, especially when we use different language and different acronyms for our equipment. It’s all about coming together and having every piece of the puzzle to better suit the scenario and better serve the community.”

Lt. Corey Shafer with the Midwest City Fire Department said training events like this do not happen very often, but both agencies should be as prepared as possible for real disasters.

“It’s nice to know we have another resource to use,” Shafer said. “If we have a big incident, it’s nice to see familiar faces and to know terminology and lingo, that [the 63rd CST] use and we use as well. It’s nice to know we can count on someone else and [they] can count on us.”

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT