Mass fatality training integrates Air Guard recovery teams

by Master Sgt. Jerry Bynum
National Guard Bureau

5/24/2010 - JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AFNS) -- One of the key functions of the Regional Mass Fatality Management Training Evolution was to develop and evaluate protocol for integration of Air National Guard Fatality Search and Recovery Teams May 10 at the Army Reserve Center/Jersey City Police Facility.

"This partnership between the National Guard and the four state regions' medical examiners and coroners (offices) will allow the victims of a mass fatality (incident) to be recovered in a safe, respectful and dignified manner," said Col. Vyas Deshpande, the director of the ANG's manpower personnel and services directorate.

"The experience that will be gained here cannot be effectively trained during table-top exercises but require hands-on training and those lessons that will be learned by ANG Airmen and the local agencies involved will be critical when the time comes that we need to use these teams.

"This evolution of training is truly joint; local, state and federal agencies coming together to execute one mission," Colonel Deshpande said.

The event included officials the Air National Guard, Department of Homeland Security, New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, along with numerous medical examiners, coroners, fire departments, law enforcement and other federal and local agencies from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

The joint training will ensure that local, state and federal agencies will be able to successfully execute their missions if called upon, exercise officials said.

The training evolution helps develop local and regional response plans that focus on responding to mass fatalities from terrorist attacks or natural disasters.

"The training is the future of integration for a mass fatality response between state and local entities and military mortuary affairs capabilities," said Mike Luke, a joint mortuary affairs officer for U.S. Northern Command.

Through national assessments, NORTHCOM officials recognized a gap in the recovery capability of remains after a catastrophic event.

"As the principal combatant command responsible for coordinating military assistance during domestic operations, the NORTHCOM Joint Mortuary Affairs Office staff believes the FSRTs to be a 'core' capability for the recovery of remains during a mass fatality event," Mr. Luke said.

Air Guard officials worked with the Fatality Management Operation Branch for the Regional Mass Fatality Management Training Evolution and assisted with conditional operations development for future integration of the FSRT teams.

The 24th Civil Support Team from the New York National Guard provided performed initial reconnaissance duties, cleared simulated hazards, tested atmospheric conditions and performed site characterization.

Three FSRTs were assembled from ANG force support squadron members from across the country. They were assigned to work with the investigation cells to recover simulated human remains.

The ANG medical elements partnered with emergency medical technicians from the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner to ensure all members who suited up in personal protective gear and others were safe.

Additional members from ANG FSRTs were present as observers to ensure their training back at home station will be as realistic and current as possible.

"One of the key short-term benefits resulting from this evolution of training is these are probably the players that would respond in a real-world situation," said Frank DePaolo, director of operations for New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Mr. DePaolo said the only way to ensure a "proof of concept" for a regional mass fatality plan was to bring all the organizations together. "There will need to be a tremendous amount of support required by the federal government, particularly the ANG," he said. "This training evolution gave us the capability to integrate as one team."