Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Christner (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Casey Bayes (right), of the 224th Engineer Company, Oregon Army National Guard, instruct a team of engineers from 249th Engineer Brigade, Vietnam People's Army
September 23, 2014, 6:48 pm
(HANOI, Vietnam) — Ten domestic emergency and response experts from the Oregon National Guard's Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) began a series of informational and practical exchanges at a training site near the headquarters of the 249th Engineers, Vietnam People's Army, Sept. 22, in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nine Citizen-Soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard's 224th Engineer Company, and one Citizen-Airman from the Oregon Air National Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing, are conducting a variety of search and rescue scenarios throughout the week-long visit including; rappelling, rescue hoist operations, casualty extraction and rigging.
The Oregon National Guard formally engaged in a partnership with The National Committee for Search and Rescue of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (VINASARCOM) in November of 2012 through the National Guard State Partnership Program.
This exchange is designed to use the expertise of Oregon's CERFP to enhance the capabilities of VINASARCOM in areas such as light and medium urban search and extraction and medical first response. This partnership also provides the Oregon National Guard with an opportunity to learn skills and procedures used in Vietnam in times of disaster and emergencies that may not be common in the U.S.
Technical Sgt. Andrew Stott, 142nd Medical Group, Oregon Air National Guard, assists in training members of the 249th Engineer Brigade, Vietnam People's Army, in rope knot work, a beginning step in learning search and extraction techniques in an urban environment, during a weeklong information and procedure exchange, Sept. 22, at the 249th Engineer Brigade Headquarters, in Vietnam. The Oregon National Guard formally began its partnership with The National Committee for Search and Rescue of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (VINASARCOM) in November of 2012. The partnership is designed to enhance the capabilities of VINASARCOM and the Oregon National Guard in areas of light and medium urban search and extraction and medical first response in disaster situations. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason van Mourik, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs, Oregon Army National Guard)
Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Christner (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Casey Bayes (right), of the 224th Engineer Company, Oregon Army National Guard, instruct a team of engineers from 249th Engineer Brigade, Vietnam People's Army, in the use of a tripod for hoisting victims out of rubble and deep holes, Sept. 22, at the 249th Engineer Brigade Headquarters, in Vietnam. The Oregon National Guard formally began its partnership with The National Committee for Search and Rescue of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (VINASARCOM) in November of 2012. The partnership is designed to enhance the capabilities of VINASARCOM and the Oregon National Guard in areas of light and medium urban search and extraction and medical first response in disaster situations. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason van Mourik, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs, Oregon Army National Guard)
Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Christner, of the 224th Engineer Company, Oregon Army National Guard, demonstrates the use of a tripod designed for hoisting victims from deep holes to a team of engineers from 249th Engineer Brigade, Vietnam People's Army, Sept. 22, at the 249th Engineer Brigade Headquarters, in Vietnam. The Oregon National Guard formally began its partnership with The National Committee for Search and Rescue of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (VINASARCOM) in November of 2012. The partnership is designed to enhance the capabilities of VINASARCOM and the Oregon National Guard in areas of light and medium urban search and extraction and medical first response in disaster situations. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason van Mourik, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs, Oregon Army National Guard)
Cpt. Mark Timmons, Oregon CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package Action Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Oregon Army National Guard, observes and assists as engineers from 249th Engineer Brigade, Vietnam People's Army, learn to rappel off of a disabled structure, Sept. 22, at the 249th Engineer Brigade Headquarters, in Vietnam. The Oregon National Guard formally began its partnership with The National Committee for Search and Rescue of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (VINASARCOM) in November of 2012. The partnership is designed to enhance the capabilities of VINASARCOM and the Oregon National Guard in areas of light and medium urban search and extraction and medical first response in disaster situations. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason van Mourik, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs, Oregon Army National Guard)
Source: News Release from Oregon Military Department
