Commonground
Senior Moderator
Oct. 15, 2024
By Airman 1st Class Sarah Hoover, 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. - Airmen from the Maryland Air National Guard hosted a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response exercise with regional partners at two Maryland National Guard training locations.
The deployment-for-training exercise enhanced emergency readiness and response in a simulated deployed environment. It took place Sept. 24-28 at the 70th Regiment Regional Training Institute, Aberdeen Proving Ground in Edgewood, and Blum Military Reservation in Glen Arm.
Thirty participants from 11 emergency management flights from the Air National Guard and Air Reserves contributed to the exercise to strengthen relationships between units within the region, including a team of Maryland Airmen from the 175th Wing.
“There was a lot of behind-the-scenes planning, coordinating and preparation that happened before we got to the smooth and fun training experience our attendees enjoyed,” said Maryland Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Blood, the installation emergency manager for the 175th Wing who organized and led the exercise. “Due to the wonderful cadre team we put together and the emergency management personnel arriving with an open mind ready to train, it was a very successful week.”
In collaboration with others in the FEMA-designated Region 3 units, the exercise focused on training scenarios where Airmen could test their capabilities in unexpected deployment emergency management challenges while wearing chemical suits.
“We bring different flights from Region 3 and the surrounding area where we can come together and experience some training together in more of a localized setting,” said West Virginia Air National Guard Master Sgt. Glynn Willard, readiness and emergency management flight chief for the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, West Virginia, and one of the cadres for the exercise. “We go over some of our annual training that we do as well as get some hands-on time out there in the field, in a simulated, deployed environment.”
Participating teams from units in FEMA Region 3 included Air National Guardsmen from Maryland’s 175th Wing, both West Virginia’s 130th Airlift Wing and 167th Airlift Wing, D.C.’s 113th Fighter Wing, Delaware’s 166th Airlift Wing, Minnesota’s 133rd Airlift Wing, Pennsylvania’s 111th Attack Wing, 171st Air Refueling Wing and 193rd Special Operations Wing, Ohio’s 121st Air Refueling Wing and Ohio Air Force Reserve’s 910th Airlift Wing.
“Some of the training that we’ll do this week involves general Airmanship and basic Soldiering skills,” said Willard. “We’ll practice convoy operations, basic weapon handling and skills, and then we’ll use those basic skills to tie into our CBRN competencies.”
...https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/...ir-guard-leads-emergency-management-exercise/
By Airman 1st Class Sarah Hoover, 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. - Airmen from the Maryland Air National Guard hosted a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response exercise with regional partners at two Maryland National Guard training locations.
The deployment-for-training exercise enhanced emergency readiness and response in a simulated deployed environment. It took place Sept. 24-28 at the 70th Regiment Regional Training Institute, Aberdeen Proving Ground in Edgewood, and Blum Military Reservation in Glen Arm.
Thirty participants from 11 emergency management flights from the Air National Guard and Air Reserves contributed to the exercise to strengthen relationships between units within the region, including a team of Maryland Airmen from the 175th Wing.
“There was a lot of behind-the-scenes planning, coordinating and preparation that happened before we got to the smooth and fun training experience our attendees enjoyed,” said Maryland Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Blood, the installation emergency manager for the 175th Wing who organized and led the exercise. “Due to the wonderful cadre team we put together and the emergency management personnel arriving with an open mind ready to train, it was a very successful week.”
In collaboration with others in the FEMA-designated Region 3 units, the exercise focused on training scenarios where Airmen could test their capabilities in unexpected deployment emergency management challenges while wearing chemical suits.
“We bring different flights from Region 3 and the surrounding area where we can come together and experience some training together in more of a localized setting,” said West Virginia Air National Guard Master Sgt. Glynn Willard, readiness and emergency management flight chief for the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, West Virginia, and one of the cadres for the exercise. “We go over some of our annual training that we do as well as get some hands-on time out there in the field, in a simulated, deployed environment.”
Participating teams from units in FEMA Region 3 included Air National Guardsmen from Maryland’s 175th Wing, both West Virginia’s 130th Airlift Wing and 167th Airlift Wing, D.C.’s 113th Fighter Wing, Delaware’s 166th Airlift Wing, Minnesota’s 133rd Airlift Wing, Pennsylvania’s 111th Attack Wing, 171st Air Refueling Wing and 193rd Special Operations Wing, Ohio’s 121st Air Refueling Wing and Ohio Air Force Reserve’s 910th Airlift Wing.
“Some of the training that we’ll do this week involves general Airmanship and basic Soldiering skills,” said Willard. “We’ll practice convoy operations, basic weapon handling and skills, and then we’ll use those basic skills to tie into our CBRN competencies.”
...https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/...ir-guard-leads-emergency-management-exercise/