DVIDS – News – Training exercise aims to improve emergency response

USAG BENELUX – BRUNSSUM, Netherlands – U.S. Military Garrison Benelux-Brunssum’s emergency response group partnered with the set up gate guards and native police for an early morning vehicle-born improvised explosive system coaching train right here on Sept. 7, 2022.

By means of the train, the garrison emergency response group, Dutch Ministry of Protection (DMOD) contracted gate guards, and Koninklijke Marechaussee (Royal Marechaussee or KMAR) Heerlen Brigade aimed to enhance their joint response efforts to potential threats on the set up.

“This isn’t fairly often that we get to follow,” mentioned Dutch Capt. Charlotte Schoonbroodt, KMAR operation group chief.

Schoonbroodt careworn the significance of testing communication protocols each internally and between the totally different response businesses. Including a number of outdoors businesses sophisticated the state of affairs, and training eventualities with one another helped construct their joint capabilities.

Through the train, a passenger pulled as much as the gate and, upon the request of the guards, refused to open his trunk for the inspection.

“They had been very sad with the trunk not opening and instantly targeted in on the automobile,” mentioned Spc. Giovanni Oliveri, 87th Division Sustainment Assist Battalion, Bravo Firm. “They recognized a doable bomb and instantly handcuffed me.”

The gate guards promptly redirected site visitors as soon as the automobile bomb menace was detected.

“The gate guards didn’t know (in regards to the train),” mentioned Cpl. Cj Klimas, U.S. Military army police operations non-commissioned officer.

The shock issue was an integral a part of the train in order that the guards’ intestine reactions might be measured. In an effort to make certain they weren’t tipped off to the train by the presence of set up emergency administration personnel, a Soldier from a special unit was chosen to play the position of the menace.

Workers Sgt. Lauryn Miramontes, MP operations non-commissioned officer-in-charge, was impressed by the DMOD guards’ fast response.

“They did a great job controlling the scene,” mentioned Miramontes, “spacing the vehicles to permit for turning round, shortly figuring out the out-of-place wire beneath the hood and instantly arresting the suspect.”

USAG Benelux – Brunssum MPs had been on the scene from the beginning, working alongside the DMOD guards.

“We need to construct the connection between the army police and the gate guards,” mentioned Miramontes.

John Hopper, USAG Benelux emergency supervisor, assessed the scene and noticed some room for enchancment.

“My query is, who’s in cost?” requested Hopper. “You’re Incident Commander: you keep and also you management the scene.”

With so many responders concerned in an incident, it’s critical, Hopper defined, to have somebody who offers route and assigns duties to everybody. As duties are assigned, efficient management of the scene should occur shortly to be able to decrease the menace.

Because the suspect was taken off the scene, a KMAR bomb squad scout assessed the automobile from a distance to make word of any menace indicators – together with the scale of bundle and whether or not there have been any wires, a cellphone, or a clock.

“If it seems like an actual (bomb), then the Explosive Ordnance Division bomb squad known as,” mentioned Nicolaas de Jager, USAG Benelux – Brunssum Chief, Protection Biometric Identification System.

This time, no additional emergency personnel had been wanted.

Whereas the train was quick, the inspectors thought-about it a useful alternative to check the set up’s response instances and inter-agency coordination.

“It’s seeing how they reply,” mentioned Nino Antonacci, USAG Benelux – Brunssum security officer. “I don’t care if there are errors—it helps us to see the place we have to enhance.”