Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            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    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        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
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Innovative training enhances unit's ability to protect homeland By 2nd Lt. Michael Barnauskas
                CERFP Public Affairs
 COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio National Guard's radical new tool in the effort to protect the homefront, the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Yield Explosives (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP, recently conducted its first full-fledged training event February 24 through March 3. The eight-day, first-of-its-kind training event was designed by the National Guard Bureau (NGB) and the Ohio National Guard, using Ohio's CERFP as a test unit. The Ohio unit, which was activated in July, is comprised of Soldiers and Airmen from the 155th Chemical Battalion, the 637th Chemical Company, the 1194th Engineer Company, the 121st Medical Group and the 437th Military Police Battalion. "I'm honored that my company will be the first to receive this training, which should set the standard for years to follow in the field of mass casualty assistance," said Capt. Tonia McCurdy, commander of the Kettering-based 637th. Comprised of both Army and Air Guardmembers, CERFPs provide essential medical, decontamination, and search and extraction support to civilian agencies in the event of a CBRNE incident. A mobile training team organized by NGB and consisting of personnel from the Center for National Response (CNR), DuPont, and U.S. Army North, traveled to Rickenbacker Air National Guard base near Columbus in February to train the Ohio troops on National Incident Management System (NIMS) operations, hazardous material handling, medical and decontamination operations. Training was broken down into two parts, classroom and "hands-on" equipment training. Classroom training included NIMS operations, which establishes standard incident management processes, protocols and procedures so that all responders can work together more effectively. NIMS focuses on command and management, preparedness, resource management, communications and information management, supporting technologies and ongoing management and maintenance. In addition, the DuPont Corporation trained the Soldiers and Airmen in hazardous materials handling, including the use of personal protective equipment, identification of unknown materials and decontamination procedures. Following classroom training, Lt. Col. Kimberly Sencindiver of the West Virginia Air National Guard, along with personnel from Army North, offered hands-on medical and decontamination training. The decontamination team, comprised of Soldiers from the 637th and augmented by the Middletown-based 155th Chemical Battalion, received hands-on training on new deconamination equipment in the event of a mass casualty incident. By the final day of the training, the decontamination element had set up all of its three mass casualty lanes, taking up an entire airplane hanger. When fully operational, the three lanes can decontaminate more than 300 people per hour. "Wow... I could never imagine how big it would really be until I witnessed it go up with my own two eyes," said an excited Sgt. Brijesh Amin of the 637th. The medical element, made up of Airmen from several Ohio Air National Guard wings but primarily the Columbus-based 121st Medical Group, received training on the Small Portable Expeditionary Aeromedical Rapid Response (SPEARR) equipment, which one Airman claimed was better than the medical equipment he used in his job at a local hospital. The SPEARR is a medical disaster response force package used by the Air Force in the event of a manmade or natural disaster to triage and stabilize casualties and prepare them for further medical treatment. The training allowed the CERFP, which is slated to become operational by September, to train together for the first time. "Finally, the Soldiers and Airmen truly understand the concept of CERFP," McCurdy said.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 10th Homeland Response Force Conducts Collective Training
 By Spc. Ryan Dunn,
  In Thailand, Hokanson Sees Enduring Partners in Name and Practice
 By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely,
  Pennsylvania Guard Military Police Deploying to Guantanamo Bay
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  More
 10th Homeland Response Force Conducts Collective Training Guard News • 8 hours ago
 New York, Connecticut Soldiers are Regional Best Warriors Guard News • yesterday
 Connecticut Guard Deploys Cloud-Based Radar/Radio Connection Guard News • 4 days ago
 New York Air Guard Transports Special Operations Forces Guard News • 6 days ago
 Kentucky Guard Airlifts Materials for Arctic Circle Housing Guard News • 6 days ago
 2024 (154)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil