Kunsan answered the call

  • Published
  • By Capt. (Dr.) Kelly Ramey
  • 8th Medical Operations Squadron
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The call for help came during the early morning hours late in August. Sensors detected the presence of a potential biologic agent on Chinhae Naval Base, located on the Republic of Korea's southeast coast. Members of the 8th Medical Group and 8th Civil Engineer Squadron deployed within hours to Chinhae and began collaboration with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Several MDG Airmen were awarded Air Force Achievement Medals in January for their roles in bringing the five day investigation to a swift conclusion.

"These individual's extensive health, scientific, biological and environmental backgrounds were vital during the NCIS investigation," said Ivan Serpa, NCIS Chinhae senior resident agent.

Members from the base bioenvironmental engineering and emergency management flights were the first to respond. The joint team gathered approximately seven preliminary environmental samples to determine whether a biological agent was present. Initial results indicated additional sampling was necessary, and they went on to gather more than 70 additional soil and surface samples.

"Suiting up in our HAZMAT [hazardous material] suit and collecting samples was the easy, fun part of the job," said SSgt. Paolo Melendez, 8th Medical Operations Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician. "The most challenging part was maintaining accurate documentation of activities during the five day event."

Accurate documentation was critical to ensure continuity as the samples and information were turned over to the various flights involved in the investigation. Once collected, the samples were processed by the laboratory flight, which was the only flight on the Korean peninsula with the required capability.

"We were the only facility on the peninsula with the equipment and supplies needed to handle this investigation," said Tech. Sgt. Marcus Houston, 8th Medical Support Squadron laboratory flight NCO in charge. "Our ability to quickly analyze the samples and report the results allowed for the investigation to keep moving toward a conclusion."

Then, the public health flight and members from the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Det. 3, deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan, analyzed all the information, such as the organism's mode of transmission, weather, individuals involved, and operational capability of the sensors that initiated the alert.

"Public Health and others provided a clear sequence of events to the United States Forces Korea leadership," said Capt. Janice McDowell, 8th MDOS public health officer. "Our results showed them the alert was not due to bioterrorism."

It was concluded the alert was due to cross-contamination during routine maintenance. The conclusion allowed more than 200 Department of Defense members and their families stationed at Chinhae to return to their normal duties in a quick manner.

The investigation at Chinhae was an opportunity to deploy procedures and equipment in a real-world event.

"It emphasized why our training and constant preparedness is crucial," said Capt. Lisa Scallan, 8th MDOS bioenvironmental engineer. "This event shows our technicians are fully capable of responding to potential biological warfare agents in addition to numerous other CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) threats."

The team's performance wasn't only lauded by USFK leadership, but by their own.

"The Chinhae response helped us understand we must always be ready to respond," said Col. Alvis Headen, 8th MDG commander. "Preparation for hazardous material response begins with Airmen and NCOs who understand the importance of their duties, and officers who continually challenge their teams with an eye toward perfection. This is exactly what we have here at Kunsan: Airmen and NCOs who take personal responsibility for their duties and officers who prepare these Airmen for response and eventual success."