News>Bio Enviromental techs train on contamination detection
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Staff Sgt. Brandon Kamai (left) indicates an environmental contamination reading to Senior Airman Jose Cardoza during Beverly High 11-6, a Local Operational Readiness Exercise on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11. The LORE tested Airmen on their responses to a multitude of scenarios including explosions and environmental contamination. Cardoza and Kamai are both Bioenvironmental Engineering technicians from the 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman)
Tech. Sgt. Joan Long, 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron training manager, checks contamination readings during Beverly High 11-6, a Local Operational Readiness Exercise on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11. During the exercise, the 18th AMDS’s Bioenvironmental Engineering flight responded to a simulated contamination near the 18th Medical Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman)
Senior Airman Jose Cardoza (right) performs a buddy check on Staff Sgt. Brandon Kamai during Beverly High 11-6, a Local Operational Readiness Exercise on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11. During the exercise, Airmen were tested during numerous scenarios such as decontamination training and self-aid and buddy care. Cardoza and Kamai are both Bioenvironmental Engineering technicians from the 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman)
by Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers
18th Wing/Public Affairs
8/11/2011 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Local Operational Readiness Exercises are a common thing on Kadena Air Base.
Most Airmen think about how they will get practice in self-aid and buddy care, remember how to complete a post attack reconnaissance sweep or use part of their 12-hour shift to catch up on work.
Airmen from the 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron's Bioenvironmental Engineering flight practice skills that could potentially save the base.
During Beverly High 11-6 they practiced testing for chemical agents. They entered a possibly contaminated area to perform a health risk assessment to see if people or equipment can still go into the area.
Tech. Sgt. Joan Long, Bioenvironmental Engineering flight training manager and Exercise Evaluation Team member, ensured the Airmen did their job correctly.
"I like being a part of the Exercise Evaluation Team because I get to teach the Airmen and help them figure out what they need help on," she said.
Whatever the focus of each LORE is, Airmen can take advantage of the time it allows for important training.
"It prepares us for the real world and for when we are deployed," Long added. "It's what we're counted on for."
