Black Flag provides real-world disaster training to AFDW

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Airmen in the National Capital Region are better prepared to deal with real world disasters after a specialized period of interagency training March 19-30.

More than 55 Air Force District of Washington members trained at the Memorial Tunnel in Gallagher W.Va. for a two-week exercise, code named Black Flag. The exercise was hosted by the Center for National Response, which is managed by the West Virginia National Guard as an element of the Joint Interagency Training and Education Center.

The Memorial Tunnel training site is ideal for consequence and crisis-management emergency response training. It provides a realistic environment where emergency response teams can readily practice techniques and is an excellent base for training on HAZMAT response, simulated agent testing, illicit chemical, biological, or drug laboratory entry and containment, EOD operations, underground search and rescue, counter terrorist tactics, and hostage rescue.

Airmen from the 11th Civil Engineering Squadron and 779th Aerospace Medical Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Md.; and the 579th Medical Operations Squadron from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C. came together for the joint training exercise.

This is the fifth year the annual AFDW Black Flag exercise at the Center for National Response in W.Va. has been held to prepare Airmen for real world disasters from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents or attacks.

"This training gives (those involved) an opportunity to really mesh the bioenvironmental engineering, emergency management, and fire emergency services together," said Sam Hunt, AFDW readiness and emergency management manager. "Learning their tactics, techniques and procedures, gaining knowledge they wouldn't otherwise have. The participants get to play with chemicals that are real hazards here (at the training site) that they wouldn't otherwise get the chance to handle at JBA or JBAB."

Firefighters and bioenvironmental engineering members went through missions and different scenarios throughout the week, using equipment to detect trace amounts of chemical and biological agents.

"It makes them realize more about the capabilities and limitations of their equipment," said Tech. Sgt. Parker Stade, 11th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management craftsman. "When they use their equipment they're getting actual readings instead of us having to simulate. It teaches them a lot more when they actually see something displayed on the screen."

The teams said they gained a lot of experience from the exercise.

"It benefits us a ton, because we don't normally have this type of environment to train. For example, not everyday do we get to pick a car, cut it up and really train on how to save a victim," said Staff Sgt. Brian Hoover, 11th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter. "And the rubble room - I'd never experienced anything like the rubble room before - where they took a bunch of big huge concrete slabs and threw them all around. It was a true disaster scene, and to be able to crawl around in there was an experience I found very beneficial. I don't ever want to do that in real life, but it was awesome training."

One of the U.S. Air Force's five direct reporting units, AFDW is the single Air Force voice for planning and implementing Air Force and joint solutions within the National Capital Region. The command organizes, trains, equips and provides forces for Air and Space Expeditionary Force deployment, homeland operations and ceremonial support within the NCR and worldwide.