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V CORPS HELPS TRAIN BAGHDAD AIRPORT AGENCIES FOR MASS CASUALTY INCIDENTS

V Corps Release

Release Date: 7/15/2003

By Spc. Christopher Stanis 1st Armored Division Public Affairs Office

BAGHDAD, IRAQ -- No airport in the world more needs a plan to be prepared for attacks or other incidents resulting in a large number of casualties than Baghdad International, said retired Marine brigadier general Mike Aguilar. V Corps units are helping make that plan happen.

The airport's emergency response personnel are better trained to handle mass casualty incidents, thanks to a realistic training exercise conducted here July 12.

With the planned reopening of the airport to commercial traffic, officials want to be sure all its emergency response agencies are ready to handle any contingency resulting in a large number of people being wounded or killed. The script for the mass casualty training exercise had role players acting as victims following an explosion that killed three people and wounded 38.

"With the airport opening soon, the threat of attack is there and the probability of attack is there," said Aguilar, who now works for TSA. "If any airport in the world should have a plan, it's this one."

In addition to TSA and V Corps units, the training included U.S. Air Force units; the airport fire department; Sky Link; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The exercise showed ICAO there is a plan prepared and ready to execute in the event of a mass casualty incident. The annual requirement by ICAO was mandatory for the airport to reopen, said Aguilar.

"The big key . is to get all of the different (military and civilian) emergency response agencies on the same page, so the highest number of casualties can be treated at the highest rate of efficiency," said 2nd Lt. David Korty, executive officer for 1st Armored Division's Company C, 47th Forward Support Battalion. Korty and his unit tracked casualties and provided command and control for the exercise.

The 1st Armored Division Surgeon, Lt. Col. Jarrod McGrath, the first fire truck arrived at the mock disaster scene four minutes after the initial call for help, and the first ambulance was on the scene seven minutes later. That's "blazing fast, in medical terms," McGrath said

Roads leading to the passenger terminals were closed off, and the mock "victims" were taken by ambulance to any one of a number of medical aid stations, depending on the severity of their simulated injuries. V Corps' 159th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), 30th Medical Brigade, provided support for those who required air evacuation.

McGrath said the exercise also included an exchange with the Iraqi Red Crescent at the access control point, to practice moving casualties downtown.

The joint operation was another step in helping Iraq rebuild itself, Korty said.

"The sooner we get done and get the airport open, the sooner we can turn it over to the Iraqis," Korty said.

Aguilar gave the training high marks.

"Overall, I give you a B-plus, which is quite significant considering the airport," Aguilar said at the exercise's after-action review. "Everyone is really well prepared to handle any major incident that may occur, regardless of the cause."