Reservist

ISS3 2014

Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Quarterly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security

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Sector Columbia River 2014 Mobilization Exercise (MOBEX): Training and ICS Converge Over the April 2014 Reserve drill weekend, a "mystery" illness impacted operations at Sector Columbia River and subordinate units. Engaging the willing suspension of disbelief allowed Reserve members of Sector Columbia River to test the notification system, incident command system principles, and complete required training and various tasks associated with Incident Command System (ICS) qualifications during a mobilization exercise (MOBEX). The MOBEX involved personnel from throughout Sector Columbia River (active duty and Reserve), the Incident Management Assist Team (IMAT), District 13, and Sector Puget Sound. Additional participating units included MSU Portland, Station Cape Disappointment, and Station Portland. The MOBEX kicked off with testing the Alert Warning System (AWS) and directing members to respond and report to their respective units to take over daily operations utilizing the ICS organizational structure. Incident Command Posts (ICP) were established at MSU Portland and Sector Columbia River – with about 100 miles of geographic separation. Command and General staffs were established at both locations and started working through the scenario and planning for future operational periods. Each ICP generated an Incident Action Plan by the end of the day. While the Command and General staffs were working through the scenario, other exercise injects, training, and the completion of mobilization readiness requirements were being completed. For example, the Facilities Unit at Sector Columbia River addressed an unsafe building inject, while the Medical Unit addressed a notional injury report and wrote a medical plan for the exercise. Small boat crews at Station Cape Disappointment and Station Portland completed periodic training, while providing status updates to the Communications Unit at Sector Columbia River. The Vessel Boarding Security Team (VBST) at Sector Columbia River responded to an unidentified person (role-played by active duty volunteers) who showed up at the entrance gate seeking access to the base and also conducted vehicle searches. The VBST training simultaneously addressed regular training and ICS training qualifications. Personnel at Marine Safety Unit Portland responded and deployed a team to an actual port state control boarding, conducted container and facility inspections, and responded to a hydraulic fuel leak. Lt. Cmdr. Becky Jones, stationed at Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Portland stated, "The MOBEX was a fantastic experience and a great way to de-mystify the ICS process and get as many people involved as possible. Throughout the weekend… people realized how positive using ICS can be. Having Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) support and an ICS overview prior to starting the event directly contributed to the event's success." Boat crews from the two stations completed several recreational boating safety inspections during day and night patrols. Additionally, the crews responded to an actual call for assistance and completed underway training including basic engineering casualty control exercises (BECCEs). The MOBEX was planned and executed by the Reserve planners at Sector Columbia River. Reserve, active duty, and IMAT personnel filled the roles of facilitators, coaches, and actors throughout the exercise. Following the exercise, reservists were debriefed by the IMAT and personalized ICS training and PQS sign-offs were completed. Significant ICS PQS tasks were completed and personnel are ready to complete at least four ICS qualification boards with others soon to follow. DC3 Dickerson, a reservist assigned to engineering from Sector Columbia River stated, "Unlike other exercises that have destructive earthquakes or tsunamis in which infrastructure damage would not allow geographically diverse reserves to report to the base, a pandemic is a realistic and believable scenario." Capt. Baron Brown stated, "This is the best reserve exercise I have ever participated in!" Sector Columbia River's annual MOBEX serve as a catalyst for strategic training and qualification opportunities as well as improved cooperation between reserve and active duty personnel at the unit. Each year the MOBEX is designed to build on lessons learned from previous years, increasing unit readiness and member proficiency. — Story by Cmdr. Joanna Hiigel, Sector Columbia River Senior Reserve Officer active duty and Reserve members of Sector Columbia River hold a status update briefng during the 2014 MoBeX. The purpose of this year's exercise is to test the notifcation system, incident command system principles, and complete required training and various tasks associated with incident Command System (iCS) qualifcations during a mobilization exercise (MoBeX). Issue 3 • 2014 � RESERVIST 19

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