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Coming together as a team to train for worst

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Sherwood T. Goodenough
  • 444th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  When 9-1-1 isn't enough, rescuers call on New Jersey Task Force One

With the help of the New Jersey Army National Guard aviation team, more than 210 members of Task Force One (NJ-TF1) tested their range of expertise on April 15-17 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. 

"It's about coming together in people's worst times and coming together to save lives," said Laura A. Connolly, the public information officer for N.J. Office Emergency Management. "It's that calling to be part of something remarkable.  You have to have the dedication." 

The mission of Task Force One is to ensure the development and delivery of emergency management programs which will serve New Jersey's community members before, during and after a disaster, she said.

The 150th Assault Helicopter Battalion used a pair of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to airlift 40 members of the urban search and rescue unit from their headquarters on Lakehurst to the range area of the joint base. Along for the ride were several live-find canines joining the task force volunteers.

During the exercise, the aviators sling-loaded a box of search and rescue equipment for the New Jersey State Troopers assigned to the Office of Emergency Management.  A UH-72 Lakota helicopter from the 1-224th Security and Support Battalion flew overhead to provide aerial reconnaissance for the search and rescue exercise.

The sheer volume of preparing for anything, anywhere, anytime is a tremendous obstacle, and it's made more complicated by the fact that the volunteers have to make time for training around their regular occupations.

"We focus on the greatest challenges to the state of New Jersey," Connolly said. " If we prepare for all hazards and if we can increase preparedness for 'noticed' and 'non-noticed' events then it will put the public in a better position.

New Jersey State Police Lt. Douglas Lemanowicz said that whether it's a hurricane that is coming five days away, a tornado that no one saw coming or an attack that leaves the nation reeling, Task Force One is always getting ready.

"We try to be diligent as well as honest with our capabilities," he said. "We try to prove that we are who we say we are.  We never get satisfied, because the next storm, the next terrorist attack... we train as though it's just around the corner."

The weekend event is the first for Operation Derecho as several training exercises are planned for the year.