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Emergency Response Team Trains with Bahrainis During Desert Sailor 2009

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090305-04
Release Date: 3/5/2009 3:07:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Stephen Murphy

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain Emergency Response Team (ERT) participated in the 11th annual Desert Sailor training course Feb. 15-26.

The two-week event took place on and off the facility and was designed to enhance skills needed for responding to terrorist incidents or natural disasters.

"This training works really well," said Jay Ulrich, ERT emergency services coordinator. "It develops better teamwork and camaraderie. Not only do they learn how to do their job better, they also learn how all the different teams work with each other."

The ERT members work within one of several teams: fire brigade, technical rescue, hazardous material, medical, logistics, and command and control. Ulrich said the training consisted of daily physical training, classroom instruction and hands-on practical exercises.

"Each team conducted training pertaining to its own area of expertise, and on the last day, we did a walk through with the all groups to see how they worked together."

During Desert Sailor, ERT members also collaborated with Bahraini Emergency Response and Civil Defense personnel. More than 30 host nation personnel participated in the hazardous material training and first responder courses aboard NSA Bahrain.

The fire brigade members practiced drills at Bahrain's Ministry of the Interior Fire Training Academy in Riffa. Meanwhile, technical rescue personnel conducted rescue operations during a collapsed-structure scenario at a former Bahraini Coast Guard barracks in Bandar Al Dar.

"The best thing about having our ERT members working with the Bahrainis is the relationship that is developed between them," said Ensign Carl Clemencich, NSA Bahrain deputy emergency management officer. "When we work and train hand-in-hand with each other, we will work well together in a real-world situation."

Desert Sailor came to an official close with a graduation ceremony at Freedom Souq Feb. 27.

"For a lot of [ERT members] this training is the highlight of their time here," said Clemencich. "This training not only improves their skills, it also helps them to understand the importance of what they are doing."