An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | June 21, 2021

Oregon Guard participates in emergency preparedness exercise

By Tech. Sgt. Brandon Boyd, 142nd Wing

WARRENTON, Ore. - Following a monumental season of wildfires, ice storms and the pandemic over the past year, emergency preparedness has become less of an afterthought and more of a necessary priority to Oregonians.

Members of the Oregon National Guard served on the fire lines during the wildfires of 2020 and are spread out across the state to serve the public at mass vaccination sites.

"Many of our members, being Citizen-Soldiers, come from many of the medical facilities around Oregon and so have been deeply impacted by COVID and taking care of COVID patients," said Lt. Col. Torree McGowan, medical element commander of the Oregon CERFP. "When the governor asked us to stand up mass vaccine sites, two-thirds of my unit volunteered to go and administer shots."

Hundreds of Guardsmen gathered the week of June 13 at Camp Rilea, Oregon, on the North Coast for a multiday emergency preparedness exercise to sharpen their skills if another large-scale disaster impacts Oregonians or their neighbors.

Many participants have civilian careers that connect to their emergency-specialized service, like emergency room physicians, EMTs, firefighters, police officers and pilots. Other members are stay-at-home parents, marketing professionals and telecom specialists.

One common thread is service.

"It's been a tremendous opportunity to impact the health and safety of our community because that's what we do as Guardsmen, that's why we put on this uniform," said McGowan.

Setting up for emergency operations, exercise or not, is a time-sensitive affair, a logistics puzzle with dozens of vehicles and trailers filled with specialized emergency aid equipment all required to be in place within hours of a disaster.

During the exercise, dozens of vehicles were assembled on base within 20 minutes. Service members donned HAZMAT suits and went through decontamination procedures. Role-players from the community simulated various maladies to test the expertise of the emergency professionals.

Air and Army National Guard members set up tents, tarps, caution tape, litters, generators, communications equipment and more. Guardsmen then began triage, search and extraction and decontamination procedures and provided simulated medical care in the glowing lights of a mobile mini-city.

The 102nd Oregon Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Defense Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) is part of the Defense Department's Homeland Response Force. The CERFP can deploy quickly and integrate with first responder teams or operate in a standalone capacity.

"This training allows you to get in a headspace where you can think about the decisions you're going to have to make and the pace at which you'll make them to ensure you're prepared mentally and physically to take on the work and get a victim out safely," said Spc. Margaret Ward, combat engineer for the CERFP.

A CERFP is composed of drilling Soldiers and Airmen from existing National Guard units or organizations. Training is part of a certification and evaluation process to ensure members are ready to respond at a moment's notice.

The specialized unit has medical triage, mass decontamination, combat security, and search-and-rescue capabilities.

"We know we have a mission that requires a lot of coordination, a lot of moving parts, so it's been nice learning from and getting to know the other branches," said Ward.

In addition to spanning multiple services, CERFPs can deploy by ground for nearby disasters or by air to distant missions. Equipment can be transported by rail or watercraft if the situation requires a more specialized approach.

"We come from our communities, we're drawn from our communities, we represent our communities and we want to be there for our communities on their darkest day," said Lt. Col. Evan D. Hessel, 102nd CERFP commander.

 

 

Related Articles
An Oregon Army National Guard HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter, assigned to the 641st Aviation Regiment, conducts a search and rescue mission on July 13, 2025, in the caldera at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. The same Black Hawk later in the day conducted a second rescue mission at Lake Harriett, Southeast of Crater Lake, when three hikers were injured from a falling tree limb.
Oregon Guard Responds to Multiple Search and Rescue Missions
By John Hughel, | July 15, 2025
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Army National Guard’s 641st Aviation Regiment worked with several agency partners to respond to multiple search and rescue operations in one day across the state during its scheduled Inactive Duty...

Oregon Army National Guard Golf Company 189th Aviation Spc. Natalie Foote simulates giving rescue breaths to a medical mannequin during the Special User Evaluation for the Future Long Range Aviation Aircraft (FLRAA) MEDEVAC patient handling system at the Army Aviation Support Facility, June 13, 2025, in Salem, Ore. Army Medical Command is using the Future MEDEVAC Cabin Technical Demonstrator to collect flight medic feedback on the design of the FLRAA MEDEVAC patient handling system. Oregon National Guard is the only reserve unit to participate in the Special User Evaluation.
Oregon Army Guard Helps Design Future Medevac Technology
By Staff Sgt. Emily Simonson, | June 18, 2025
SALEM, Ore. - The future of Army flight medicine has been driving across the country in a shipping container for the past year.The Future Medical Evacuation (medevac) Cabin Technical Demonstrator (FMC-TD) is a 20-foot mockup...

Participants gather at the start line in the pre-dawn light at U.S. Cellular Field in Medford, Ore., June 8, 2025, before beginning the Norwegian Foot March. The 18.6-mile endurance test, hosted by the Oregon Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, attracted 101 military personnel and civilians carrying 24-pound rucksacks.
Oregon Guard Honors Army's 250th with Norwegian Endurance Challenge
By Maj. Wayne Clyne, | June 9, 2025
MEDFORD, Ore. – As the U.S. Army marks its 250th anniversary, Oregon National Guard Soldiers embraced a fitting tribute – completing one of the military's most demanding endurance tests that has challenged warriors for more...