RAF bases come together for joint training

Firefighters from the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron are briefed before participating in Joint Emergency Response Training with Royal Air Force Mildenhall and different agencies on base at RAF Lakenheath, England, Dec. 9, 2015. The training was designed to ensure all response elements are capable of responding to hazardous occurrences. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Erin Babis/Released)

RAF bases come together for joint training

An emergency response team enters a contaminated area during a Joint Emergency Response Training exercise at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Dec. 9, 2015. The training took place to ensure all response elements are fully trained and capable of working together in the event of a hazardous occurrence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dawn M. Weber/Released)

RAF bases come together for joint training

Airmen from Royal Air Forces Lakenheath and Mildenhall’s bioenvironmental flights prepare to assess a contaminated area during a joint training exercise at RAF Lakenheath, England, Dec. 9, 2015. The training was planned to ensure all response elements are fully trained and capable or working together in the event of a hazardous occurrence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Erin Babis/Released)

RAF bases come together for joint training

Airmen from Royal Air Forces Lakenheath and Mildenhall’s bioenvironmental flights determine how to control hazardous material during a joint training exercise at RAF Lakenheath, England, Dec. 9, 2015. The training was held to ensure all response elements are fully trained and capable of working together in the event of a hazardous occurrence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dawn M. Weber/Released)

RAF bases come together for joint training

Published Dec. 15, 2015
By Senior Airman Dawn M. Weber
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --
RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall teamed up, Dec. 9, 2015, for Joint Emergency Response training to analyze, identify, control and help mitigate any type of hazardous emergency within the local area.

According to Tech. Sgt. Peter Torres, 48th Civil Engineer Squadron NCO in charge of response and operations, this training was about testing multi-agency response capabilities to hazardous events.

"This training was to ensure all response elements are fully trained, capable and work seamlessly together if and when there is a hazardous occurrence," Torres said.

For some, learning to work with their counterparts from the 100th Refueling Wing, as well as other base agencies , created some difficulties, but ultimately led to a successful day.

"I believe the training was a success. The different agencies had to learn to work together and clearly identify the hazards," said Senior Airman Katelynn Rosario, 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineer technician. "We were able to use our different training styles to create and execute the mission."

Working in teams, Airmen from RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall identified different types of hazards, analyzed their severity and developed efficient ways to control them. Afterward, Emergency Management determined the effects the hazardous material could cause to the local area and base operations, and worked with bioenvironmental to determine the health effects to the responders and the general public.

"People think that as a bioenvironmental Airman, we don't do anything more than water sampling, but a large part of our job is actually responding to hazardous occurrences," Rosario said. "We have training like this to help us identify and contain hazardous materials and to help us maintain a healthy environment for the population's health."