On Friday morning, starting at 5:15 a.m., a combined force of 208 Nebraska Army and Air National Guard soldiers and airmen gathered at the Mead Training Center for a full‑scale disaster simulation. The exercise, reported by KLKN, tested the Guard’s ability to extract victims from rubble, provide medical treatment and mobilize within three hours of activation—skills critical for protecting Lincoln residents in a major national emergency.
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Barondeau, who leads the 72nd Special Operations Detachment, explained that the drill brought together personnel from across the Nebraska Army and Air National Guard, as well as a small detachment from the Iowa Air National Guard. “In Nebraska’s 72nd Special Operations Detachment, we have the ability to bring 208 personnel from across the Nebraska Army and Air National Guard, as well as a small detachment from the Iowa Air National Guard together to collectively meet this mission,” Barondeau said.
The scenario began with Guard members locating and rescuing volunteer victims who were acting as casualties. After extraction, both victims and rescuers underwent a decontamination process, mirroring the protocols that would be required in a real disaster. Once cleared, a team of doctors, nurses and medics performed triage and administered life‑saving care.
Sergeant Seth Grimm, a veteran of over a decade in these missions and now overseeing reconnaissance, described the multi‑team approach: “So we go down, figure out what’s going on and then we’ve got a ropes rescue team, a shoring team, a breach break lift haul. Other teams come down and can get that person out of that situation however they need to,” Grimm explained.
Barondeau emphasized that each annual exercise improves the Guard’s efficiency, noting that faster setup and operation directly translates to lives saved. “That means the faster that we can get on station, set up and operating, that’s lives that are getting saved,” he said, adding, “Today, they absolutely crushed it.”
The day concluded with an authentic command briefing, after which the troops will be evaluated by the Nebraska National Guard Bureau on Saturday.
What’s next: The Guard’s performance review on Saturday will determine any adjustments to training protocols, ensuring that Lincoln and the surrounding communities continue to benefit from a highly prepared emergency response force.
Sources: klkntv.com
