By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Benjamin Taylor, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest
EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Station (NAVSTA) Everett hosted the Washington Army and Air National Guard (WA ANG) for a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive training exercise July 27-Aug. 7.
The exercise was held to help train and assess Washington National Guard assets. Training was conducted in NAVSTA Everett training rooms by civilian experts in the fields of hazardous material handling and disposal and emergency management.
"I think one thing we've learned over the last few years that it is no longer one service [or] one fight; all the services work together," said Air Force Col. Greg Swanson, Washington Air National Guard. "This is an example of where the Navy is supporting us in our homeland mission."
Personnel assigned to the WA ANG attended training on hazardous material handling and disposal as well as public health and crisis management. The All American Restaurant served 2,370 meals with the assistance of Army National Guard food service specialists.
"The National Guard's assistance helped with the increased workload keeping the galley personnel from having to work extra hours," said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Glendon Turner, NAVSTA Everett. "They showed us how we can work together as a joint force."
Fifteen tents, designated as command, control and decontamination areas, were the site of the training exercise. During the drill, a search and control team extracted participants acting as casualties in a simulated chemical attack on the bachelor housing and brought them through decontamination and medical triage.
"I'm happy that Naval Station Everett was able support the Washington Army National Guard's successful two-week training in providing 257 Soldiers and Airmen with outdoor areas, classrooms, computer equipment, lodging and facilities here and at Smokey Point," said Capt. Thomas L. Mascolo, commanding officer NAVSTA Everett.
"Naval Station Everett is proud to host a joint exercise, which involves a collective effort for local emergency responders and better prepares this installation to quickly aid our neighboring state and possibly international emergency."
