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

2 MDG hones skills with local emergency responders

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mary Davis
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
SHREVEPORT REGIONAL AIRPORT, La. --  The 2nd Medical Group partnered with local first responders during a mass casualty drill at the Shreveport Regional Airport Oct. 6, which provided training and an opportunity to interact with other emergency units.

The drill scenario involved a passenger aircraft that suffered a main gear collapse upon landing. The aircraft fuselage ruptured, ejecting passengers along the entire rollout path and grassy areas adjacent to the runway. The right wing separated and collided with another aircraft taxiing, causing damage and more passenger injuries. Members of 2 MDG from Barksdale Air Force Base, home to Air Force Global Strike Command, worked beside Bossier City, Shreveport and Caddo law enforcement, fire department and emergency medical technicians to control the simulated situation.

"This is a great chance for us to learn from other emergency response agencies," said 1st Lt. Nathan Green, 2 MDSS medical readiness officer. "Although our processes may be similar to off-base agencies, they may not exactly correlate. Exercises like these help us work together smoothly."

The 2 MDG has a mutual aid understanding with local emergency response agencies to provide needed assistance off-base during a disaster and to receive emergency assistance from them as well. The exercise included approximately 60 victims and two aircraft fires with one carrying hazardous materials. The training event helped evaluate notification and initial response of emergency agencies; search and rescue operations; information flow between the airport, airlines and initial responding agencies; incident command system effectiveness; victim triage, treatment and transportation; and hospital response to patient surge situations.

"During a disaster is not the time to find out there are problems with terminology and equipment - by then it's too late," said Master Sgt. Joseph Picard, 2 MDSS medical readiness NCO. "Working together with civilian agencies builds rapport and helps us know what to expect and what their capabilities are."

It takes everyone working as a team to ensure every aspect is covered, said Assistant Fire Chief Fred Sanders from the Shreveport Fire Department.

"Each area - fire, police, military, medical - have a unified commander during an emergency," said Mr. Sanders, a Shreveport native. "A lot of training is necessary because of the things that could potentially happen. If something of this magnitude really did occur, we would have to respond to the incident and contend with the needs of the community as well. This tests our unified commands and shows us what we do well and how we can improve."

The exercise served two purposes, said Gene Barattini, Department of Homeland Security assistant director of operations and logistics.

"It tested the commands' response and fulfilled the Federal Aviation Administration's tri-annual regional disaster drill, which we exercise parrish regional response and mutual aid," said the retired Army operations officer. "Bossier City, Bossier Parish, Caddo Fire districts, private providers and the eight regional hospitals were evaluated. It also assessed the interoperability of radios, Internet, local area network and satellite capabilities."