PRICE BARRACKS, Belize -- Hazardous Materials Environmental Services Division (ESD) Marine Forces Reserve, also known as HAZMAT (Hazardous Materials) or ESD taught confined space rescue operations during Tradewinds 2010 (TW10), which is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff directed, U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise that is conducted in cooperation with Caribbean Basin partner nations.
TW10 is designed to improve cooperation with the partner nations in responding to regional security threats, and HAZMAT training is part of that responsibility. The HAZMAT ESD team is a unit with close to 60 personnel at five different sites within the U.S. They ensure compliance with environmental regulations and maintain various unit’s emergency response abilities to hazardous materials.
The HAZMAT Marines taught military members from partner nations the basics of confined space rescue operations. The students each received numerous hours of hands-on training learning how to create swiss seat, four to one mechanical advantage pulleys, and victim packaging with a stretcher and sked.
“Today we demonstrated lowering rescuers to confined spaces to rescue trapped persons,” said Master Sgt. Thomas Auletta, operations chief for HAZMAT ESD MarForRes, Redbank, New Jersey. “We wanted to give the students an idea of rappelling from different heights.”
The students, strapped in by a harness, rope and carabineers, climbed a tower 45 ft. high, and rappelled to the ground; simulating a confined space rescue operation.
“Typical rescue heights could range anywhere from six to eight feet to 40 to 60 ft.,” said Auletta, a civilian emergency services unit supervisor in Nassau County, NY. “This one simulates a pretty high drop.”
Few students from larger countries such as the Dominican Republic, to small nations like Suriname, have ever rappelled during military operations, according to a class survey.
Dominican Republic Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade, Alexis Beras, an operations officer, explained the importance of the training that he received for the first time in six years.
“HAZMAT training is always changing universally,” said Beras. “It’s my duty as a training officer and supervisor to stay up to date on HAZMAT training.”
Auletta said the Marines with HAZMAT each requalify annually, ensuring they receive the most up to date HAZMAT training available.
Soon after the students got their feet wet with rappelling, it was time to transition the training to something a little more challenging; confined space rescue operations.
Fully equipped from head to toe in a harness, rope, oxygen tank, mask, radio and air monitor, rescuers crawled through a small tunnel, with only inches of maneuverable space surrounding them.
The students role played real life scenarios. Each student simulated a different position of a rescue team, with different roles varying from rescuers to rescue-team leaders.
“We are giving the students little guidance today,” said Staff Sgt. Don Carney, a HAZMAT specialist, who serves as a Nassau County Police Department Detective. “We’re observing, but only giving them help when they need it.”
On the final day, students were left up to their own skills to participate in a final practical application exercise, with no assistance from their instructors. The final exercise was not timed, and Auletta commended the students for their excellence in time management while conducting the scenario.
The students donned proper protective equipment and performed a HAZMAT response to the release of an unknown substance, in a barracks, and one person was injured. The injured victim was rescued, the rescuers were decontaminated, and they identified the unknown chemical. “The students did an excellent job assigning roles and all central tasks were conducted with no assistance," Auletta concluded.