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CERFP Medical Teams Conduct Joint Training One may have expected to see Hawkeye Pierce or Trapper John of the TV series “M.A.S.H.” on scene as National Guard medical personnel rushed to and from a med-evac helicopter delivering simulated wounded to waiting emergency rooms. The training exercise in early February at Marietta’s 248th Medical Company involved more than 90 Georgia Army and Air National Guard medical personnel training on transporting stretcher bound patients. The joint training involved Soldiers of the 248th and Airmen of the 116th Medical Group based at Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins. Both units are part of Georgia’s newly formed CERFP medical organization. This was the first time the two units had trained together. For most of the afternoon, Army and Air stretcher bearing teams hustled patients from ambulances to waiting medical evacuation helicopters under the watchful eyes of several instructors. All participants received instructions in proper stretcher loading and carrying techniques and had the opportunity to test their abilities by loading a UH-1 Huey helicopter from Georgia’s 131st Air Ambulance Company. Also on hand for the exercise was a Life Flight helicopter from Emory University Hospital which provided different equipment that may be expected in a disaster scenario. The joint CERFP (Chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear and high explosive) Response Force Package, is composed of the 781st CERFP Battalion, elements of the 878th Engineers, 4th Civil Support Team, 202nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal as well as Army and Air Guard medical personnel. In the event of a disaster or emergency situation occurring anywhere within the seven Southeastern states, Georgia’s CERFP would deploy within hours. It would carry with it all the critical capabilities, resources, equipment and skills needed to provide immediate assistance to local emergency first responders. “What we’re doing is quite new,” said Lt. Col. Jeff Allen, Joint Task Force 781st CERFP commander. “Jointness is what CERFP is about. Georgia’s first joint response organization draws upon the strengths and capabilities of both services.” said Allen, who recently took command of the 781st, brings to the position extensive joint experience as commander of the 4th CST. Colonel John David Mullins, the Georgia Air Guard’s flight surgeon, echoed the importance of CERFP’s joint medical arm. “We’ve learned many lessons from responding to Hurricane Katrina and other similar disaster situations,” Mullins explained. “And that’s what we are trying to incorporate into these joint Army/Air medical exercises. “We’ve learned that that our medical personnel must work together to recognize the inherent skills and capabilities of one another as well as to understand the local medical capabilities in the areas they where they will be called to serve. |
