VNG’s search and extraction team proves capabilities
More than 200 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted multiple mass casualty response drills during a collective training exercise May 20 – 24, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The Soldiers and Airmen are assigned to the Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package, which provided search and extraction, decontamination, medical support and fatality management during the mock CBRNE response exercises.
During the CTE, the CERFP’s search and extraction team underwent a Mission Confirmation Assessment, and were assessed as “Trained” on the team’s seven critical tasks associated with their mission, joining the rest of the CERFP’s elements, according to Maj. Andrew J. Czaplicki, commander of the 34th CERFP.
“Our task force is validated every three years, but due to unexpected weather last year, our search and extraction element did not finish their portion of the evaluation.”
Over the five-day exercise, service members worked through a variety of scenarios stressing their knowledge and skills in a simulated disaster environment.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman conduct mass casualty training ahead of a collective training exercise May 21, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.