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JBSA News
NEWS | Jan. 8, 2020

149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard units participate in FSRT BETA test

By ANG Readiness Center ANG Readiness Center

Air National Guard members from the 149th Fighter Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and the 159th Fighter Wing at  Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana, participated in a beta assessment test for Fatality Search and Recovery Teams at the Round Rock Public Safety Training Center, Round Rock, Texas Dec. 3-8, 2019.

This test is a new model of Commander’s Assessment providing these units the opportunity to exercise their role in a Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Task Force, or CBRN-TF, as well as CBRN Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP, simultaneously.

“Assessments like this help prepare our Airmen to be ready as first responders,” said 2nd Lt. Kayla Gordon-Black, FSRT lead observer/controller/trainer. “Their involvement here could provide innovative ways they tackle common problems at future incidents.”

An FSRT is a nationally certified team, consisting of 10 enlisted Airmen and one officer, specializing in the recovery of human remains in a mass fatality incident. The FSRT can respond to a CBRN or non-CBRN incident. The team is a specialized Unit Type Code that falls under the force support squadron within the services flight.

Each member receives additional training beyond their normal roles as a Services specialist, which includes topics as diverse as National Incident Management System and Incident Command System training, as well as Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations level training from accredited agencies such as the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress  or Pro-Board.

“The experience gained through real world response training gave both teams’ not only excellent esprit de corps, but also seasoned members with confidence,” said Brad Wittlinger, National Guard Bureau /A1XR FSRT Program Manager.

FSRT is one of six elements that make up a CERFP or CBRN-TF. The other five elements are Command Post, Mass Casualty Decontamination, Search and Extraction, Medical Element and Joint Incident Site Communications Capability. The CP, DECON and S&E are comprised predominately of Army National Guard soldiers, which affords our Airmen the unique opportunity to work with fellow service members.

This opportunity exposes our Airmen to the Army Guard’s culture, and rank structure, which proves to be invaluable, and necessary in order to successfully complete the assigned mission, whether it be a training event, evaluation or real world response to support affected communities around the United States and territories.