On Friday morning, more than 200 Nebraska Army and Air National Guard soldiers and airmen gathered at the Mead Training Center in Yutan for a full‑scale disaster‑response simulation. The exercise tested the Guard’s ability to extract victims from rubble, provide life‑saving medical treatment and conduct decontamination – skills that could prove vital in a national emergency.
Guard leaders stress rapid deployment
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Barondeau, commander of the 72nd Stryker Brigade, explained that the Guard can mobilize 208 personnel from Nebraska and a small detachment from the Iowa Air National Guard within three hours of activation. “We’re responding as an organization to assist the first responders who have reached a culmination point in their capacity,” Barondeau said, emphasizing the Guard’s role as a back‑stop for local emergency services.
Real‑world scenarios, volunteer casualties
The drill began with simulated victims—volunteers acting as casualties—being rescued from collapsed structures. Soldiers used ropes, shoring equipment and breaching tools to reach the “injured,” then moved them through a decontamination corridor before triage began. Medical teams of doctors, nurses and medics administered emergency care, mirroring the procedures that would be used in a true disaster.
Seasoned guardsmen lead the effort
Sergeant Seth Grimm, a veteran of more than a decade in the Guard, now oversees reconnaissance for the unit. “We go down, figure out what’s going on, and then we have a ropes rescue team, a shoring team, a breach‑break‑lift‑haul team,” Grimm explained. He added that other teams are ready to extract victims in any manner required.
Continuous training builds efficiency
Barondeau noted that each year the Guard becomes more efficient, and that speed saves lives. “The faster we can get on station, set up and operate, the more lives are saved,” he said, adding, “Today, they absolutely crushed it.” The exercise concluded with a command briefing and a formal evaluation by the Nebraska National Guard Bureau scheduled for Saturday.
Opportunities for community members
The Guard encourages Nebraskans who wish to serve their families and communities to consider enlistment. Interested individuals can visit the Nebraska National Guard website for more information on how to join the brave men and women who protect the state’s safety and resilience.
This drill underscores the Guard’s commitment to safeguarding Nebraskan families, supporting first responders and ensuring the state is prepared for any large‑scale emergency.
Original reporting: KLKN-TV – News, Weather and Sports for Lincoln, Nebraska — read the source article.
