Oregon Guard Blackhawk Helicopter Crews Undergo Chemical Weapons Training (VIDEO)

The training is something that the federal government requires the state National Guard units to participate in.

(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - Blackhawk helicopter crews from the Oregon National Guard spent time in McMinnville Wednesday; they were there to participate in a special chemical training exercise that it is part of a training program they have to complete every year…

Oregon Guard Lt. Nate Edgecomb

Lt. Nate Edgecomb says the scenario is based on a terrorist incident during which a Salem area building is struck by terrorists.

The people participating in the training exercise say it is hard work. The actors are portraying people who are very sick from a chemical attack; and the flight crews have to conduct the training with special NBC or Nuclear Biological Chemical warfare gear. It is not pleasant work they say.

SSgt David Noffsinger who is a crew chief aboard a Blackhawk in the Oregon National Guard, says it isn’t too bad until you start exerting yourself.

“They it gets a little restrictive” he says. The veteran Staff Sgt. Says he thinks they should increase these training scenarios.

The training is something that the federal government requires the state National Guard units to participate in. Edgecomb, who is a Blackhawk pilot, says the benefits all Americans.

“It’s important for the readiness level of the whole country really. It’s unfortunate in this day and age that we have to prepare for something like that. But is our job at the Oregon Guard to be ready for that state mission.”

Another component of Wednesday’s training was a patient litter retrieval utilizing the hydraulic hoist mounted by the helicopter’s side door.

The medic in this training scenario is lowered to the ground with a litter that will raise the patient.

In this case the patient is a life sized dummy that weighs 240 pounds and is dressed in flight gear.

It is an effort for the crews to perform these missions with the degree of success that they do.

This Oregon helicopter medical company is known as the best in the entire country.

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keith June 18, 2007 8:59 pm (Pacific time)

Iraq and Iran had nothing to do with 9/11 and Saddam was the enemy of al Qaeda. Every reason for the war was a lie. Bin Laden and his men are in Pakistan. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. Pakistan funded the 9/11 hijackers.

keith June 18, 2007 8:54 pm (Pacific time)

Wild idea: the Oregon National Guard should guard Oregon, not go to the other side of the world engaging in some adventure to take control of an oil-rich area. Better for us to go solar, wind, and wave for energy. This fiasco has cost the lives of close to one million human beings, will cost about $2.3 Trillion in total, and (according to our 16 intelligence agencies) has made us LESS safe. Michel should have said 750 bases in 130 countries--that's close to the truth. We spend about $950 billion every year on the military when the expenditures under other budgets than the Pentagon are totalled: retirements, VA, Energy, NASA, interest on debt, CIA, State, etc. Rest of world combined=$500 billion. Iraq spent $1 billion per year pre-invasion. A lot of people act like this is a high school football game and it is us against the cross-town rivals. I know Bush was a cheerleader at the rich prep school he went to in Massachusetts.

Dinel of Veneta OR June 18, 2007 8:05 am (Pacific time)

Interesting story. Very dedicated unit. Thank you for showing us their hard work.

Vic June 17, 2007 9:46 am (Pacific time)

Meanwhile, our schools are crumbling, our nation is so far in debt, we cannot even make the interest payments...but hey, lets have "war games" ! The stupid taxpayers will pick up the tab gladly after we scare them with the latest booga-booga story. We cant provide health care for our children, but we are damn good at killing everyone else's children. I appreciate the people who join the National Guard, however, and am sad that they are being used as pawns .

Michel Chossudovsky June 16, 2007 9:31 pm (Pacific time)

Let's face it. All of this military talk is about 9/11. Al-Qaeda is a C.I.A. intelligence asset. It was used in the Balkans. President Carter was given recognition for creating it as a smoke screen terror group in Bosnia. 9/11 was allowed to happen by our allies (Al-Qaeda) as a pretext to invade the middle east and build 14 bases. We now have 130 bases in 190 countries. 9/11 was an inside job, very sophisticated and promoted by our own intelligence. The U.S. is now totally militant and militaristic and this is nothing to be proud of. Your own government wanted 9/11 to gain public support. The C.I.A. has been working with militant Islamic groups for almost 30 years as a secret weapon and will do anything to promote the agenda of the globalists. I can not believe how few people are aware of the fraud created without the knowledge of the American people. All of this gun-ho talk about anything military that is not humanitarian is sickening. Helicopters should have been used for Katrina; not created conflicts with false enemies. Yes, your own government (parts of it) will sponsor domestic terrorism. What fools ye Americans be. I will not respond to comments. Find out for yourself about Al-Qaeda and its origins and uses for specific agendas by very powerful interests and specifically its use as a C.I.A asset. This has all been a fraud.

Amanda June 14, 2007 9:21 pm (Pacific time)

Great reporting. It's nice to know that Oregon is going to be prepared.

Mary Eugene June 14, 2007 7:39 pm (Pacific time)

This could have been on national news. Excellent job guys!

Dale Corvallis June 14, 2007 10:59 am (Pacific time)

Glad to see that a news station in Salem cares about the Oregon National Guard.

Anonymous June 14, 2007 10:08 am (Pacific time)

Alright Oregon National Guard!

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