Training to keep California safe

by Sgt. John Stephens
49th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs

April 26, 2022

ELDRIDGE, Calif. – The 49th Military Police Brigade in conjunction with the California Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Task Force, Homeland Response Force, and several local partner agencies, joined one another in the third annual Sentinel Response training event, April 26-30, in Eldridge, California.

More than 650 civilians and service members responded to a mock 7.5 earthquake along the Rodgers Creek Fault line.

Members of the 49th MP Brigade’s Region IX Homeland Response Force (HRF) teamed with Travis Air Forces Base’s 21st Airmobility Wing on April 26.

Soldiers and Airmen executed loading procedures and later flew in a C-17 aircraft with the equipment. Soldiers then unloaded and set up communication equipment simulating what could happen in a real-world scenario.

“It is our purpose to ensure the support of others to complete their duties," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Charles Cummings of the 21st Airmobility Wing. "Training in fast-paced, unpredictable environments allows for the solidification of our continued relationships."

The 49th MP Brigade did not have much of a break as Sentinel Response officially began at the Sonoma Developmental Center in Eldridge, California on April 28.

The three-day exercise saw the integration of the 95th Civil Support Team, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Multiple HAZMAT, and US&R Fire Response Teams from across Northern California, the Red Cross, and Animal Decontamination.

Agencies had to establish specific communication and map responsibilities for each group.

“It was a tremendous privilege to work with our local and state US&R and HAZMAT partners on the complex problems we face together," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Adam Rix, Commander, California CBRN Task Force.

“Working like this allowed us to learn, grow and better understand how we can bring our capabilities together ahead of an actual disaster,” he added.

April is Earthquake Awareness month, so an exercise like sentinel response is not only timely, but it's main objective is to helps interagency responses and communication between Cal Guard members and local partner agencies.

“One of the most important things that happened is the HRF and CBRN task force worked together with civilian counterparts, said Phillip White, Lead Exercise Planner for Sentinel Response 2022.

"They had to come together and create a unity of effort to save lives, protect property and mitigate the destruction. It was great to see the leadership work together and that is the main objective of Sentinel Response."

HAZMAT Fire Response Teams along with Cal Soldiers assessed the training environment before conducting search and extraction for victims in tight spaces.

First responders utilized high and low-angle rope rescue to extract these victims from dangerous buildings affected by the simulated earthquake.

The 149th Chemical Company conducted decontamination procedures to ensure that all victims, animals, and first responders were clear of hazardous material before entering the safe zone. The 49th MP Brigade established communications and tracked the logistics of the event from their mobile command center.

During the exercise, the 49th MP Brigade was visited by U.S. Army Col. Jean-Paul Laurenceau, commander of Region IV HRF Command Element, Georgia National Guard, as well as Maj. Pawel Lewandowski, an officer with NATO's Military Police Center of Excellence.

Lewandowski, was interested in working relationships and wanted to see how California is approaching cross-functional partnerships.

“What I observed this weekend isn’t what I expected. It was better.”

Lt. Col. Eric Sharyer, Commander, 49th Military Police Brigade and the Region IX Homeland Response Force could not have been happier with the outcome.

“The 49th Military Police Brigade, alongside our partners, support our communities through interagency disaster preparedness," he said.

"It is better to exchange business cards at a training exercise rather than a real-world event.”