STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. -- Embodying the vision of the 105th Airlift Wing, ‘Always Ready’, Airmen of the 105th Medical Group’s Detachment 1 CBRN Task Force participated in a triennial, or every 3-year, training exercise that boosted the medics’ ability to respond to large-scale chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear incidents.
The New York National Guard CBRN Task Force Medical Element conducted the evaluation exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, between May 28 and June 2, 2026. The element is made up of Airmen and Soldiers from medical units across the state, including 105th MDG Airmen.
The exercise scenario included command and control, search and extraction, basic and advanced life support, hot and cold zone triage elements, decontamination operations and more. Participating Airmen and Soldiers responded to various types of large-scale CBRN events in a city, simulated by Fort Indiantown Gap’s rock pile of debris. They were evaluated on their ability to receive alerts and respond to crisis events, using the skills vital to their roles as medics in the NY National Guard.
“The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate our training and to test our ability to deploy alongside our other military counterparts,” said Lt. Col. Edward Roden, 105th MDG Det 1 commander.
This exercise was also valuable because it allowed Airmen, Soldiers and leaders from both branches to interact with each other and other agencies in ways that they don’t do day-to-day, Roden added.
Throughout the multi-day exercise, the task force went through multiple practice rounds of the scenario, each rotation improving their skills and capabilities. The rotations ended with the National Guard Bureau’s Joint Surgeon’s Office evaluating the quality of the medics’ response and reaction abilities.
The primary skillsets NYNG medics possess ensure their successful participation in exercises like this one, as well as deployments and real-world events. Such strengths include being 100 percent mobile, operating in CBRN environments, performing mass casualty triage, providing life-saving medical stabilization and coordinating casualties’ transportation to higher levels of care.
“We were challenged to make timely decisions, reinforcing individual competencies and strengthening joint communications,” said Master Sgt. Zahara Castillo, Det 1 search and extraction medical technician. “The exercise had a positive impact by improving knowledge, strengthening teamwork and increasing proficiency in preparedness for real world scenarios.”
The Airmen and Soldiers who participated in the exercise and make up the task force are the medical response component of the FEMA Region II Homeland Response Force. The element provides short-duration, pre-hospital emergency care during mass casualty CBRN or other incidents. The FEMA Region II HRF supports New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.