95th AMDS takes CBRN challenge

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 95th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flights showed what they are made of during the CBRN Challenge Oct. 1 through 5. 

CBRN challenge tests Air Force Materiel Command bases' bioenvironmental engineering flights on their chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear detection or identification capabilities. 

"It challenges bioenvironmental engineering flights to provide real-time health-risk assessments during realistic scenarios," said Tech. Sgt. Deedee Reece, 95th AMDS industrial hygiene element noncommissioned officer in charge. 

A cadre team from AFMC facilitated the exercise. This is part of the Air Force CBRN Challenge to be held in December. Each major command sends their best bioenvironmental engineering flight for the competition. 

"While this event is primarily a competition, it serves as an outstanding training opportunity to sharpen our CBRN response capabilities," Sergeant Reece said. 

The event also helped identify policy and equipment gaps in health-risk assessments and emergency management operations, she said. 

The team was tested on how quickly they can identify chemical agents or a nuclear device, how they assess the exposure and their recommendation to the on-scene commander about the risk exposure to everyone around, said Master Sgt. Ben Winslow, 95th AMDS bioenvironmental engineering flight noncommissioned officer in charge. 

Some of the scenarios include dirty bombs, chemical warfare in deployed scenarios and anthrax in mailrooms. 

The five-man team is composed of 1st Lt. Leo Somera, Tech. Sgt. Deshanta Richardson, Tech. Sgt. Kris Travers, Senior Airman Shane Polk and Airman 1st Class Andrew Croop. 

"We picked the best of the best in our flight," Sergeant Winslow said. "We pretty much assembled the team who would best represent the flight." 

The team has been preparing for this competition by practicing constantly, he said. The team performed monthly and quarterly CBRN training. 

Sergeant Reece said the team met each objective timely and accurately. The cadre continuously remarked on the level of professionalism displayed by the team and the amount of teamwork extended from the entire flight. 

"We are proud of the team," Sergeant Winslow said. "Hope we do well in AFMC."