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Airmen train with Soldiers during rapid deployment exercise

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Frances Kriss
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Airmen from the 62nd Airlift Wing and Soldiers from the 62nd Medical Brigade recently trained together during an exercise in an effort to practice rapid deployment capabilities.

During the exercise, loadmasters from the 62nd Operations Support Squadron demonstrated the basics of securing medical vehicles and equipment on the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

"The purpose of the training was to show the Soldiers how to load, unload and learn tie-down procedures based on the requirements of the C-17," said Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Austin, 62nd OSS loadmaster.

Currently, units from JBLM's 62nd Medical Brigade are identified as part of the Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Response Force, also known as Defense CBRN Response Force or DCRF. The brigade assumed their mission as part of the DCRF on Oct. 1, 2011, and will continue the mission for one year.

The response force consists of 5,200 personnel rapid response force divided into two force packages. The first force package is comprised of 2,100 personnel prepared to deploy within 24 hours. The second force package consists of 3,100 personnel and is prepared to deploy within 48 hours of notification.

"Due to the nature of the brigade's mission, they need to be able to load the plane and leave immediately," said Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Thompson, 62nd OSS loadmaster. "It's important that they learn these skills so they can help us quickly and safely load their equipment."

Loadmasters are still the final authority when it comes to ensuring that vehicles and equipment are properly secured on the C-17, but the help of the Soldiers will make their processes more efficient.

"More individuals trained in tie-down procedures means we can move on to other requirements on our checklist," said Austin. "We still have to inspect their work and make sure every piece of equipment has sufficient restraints based on weight and size, but their help is very beneficial."

Austin said there's another benefit from the training.

"In addition to them learning about our capabilities, we were able to utilize our skills as instructors," he said. "When I see that they are absorbing everything we're teaching them, it makes the joint training experience worthwhile."

This type of training session, which usually occurs twice a month, is a DCRF rapid deployment training requirement. Although the exercise was a requirement, it was still an opportunity to train.

"I believe it's absolutely critical to have these exercises so we know what we need to work on," said Pfc. Stacy O'Brien, a medic and clinical administrator with the brigade's Headquarters and Headquarters Company. "Since this is a new task for us, some of us are learning as we go."

DCRF is designed to respond to a catastrophic or CBRN event through a request for assistance (RFA) by a governor, lead federal agency, or the president through the Secretary of Defense.
If called upon, Soldiers from the 62nd Medical Brigade would provide medical support as part of the DCRF where it is needed.

The C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft can perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions and can transport litters and ambulatory patients during aeromedical evacuations when required. The inherent flexibility and performance of the C-17 force improve the ability of the total airlift system to fulfill the worldwide air mobility requirements of the United States.