MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Facility Response Team aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, conducted a weeklong training evolution to requalify and refresh U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel on oil spill response, containment and recovery operations, Jan. 25-30, 2015.
The first training day brought personnel back to the foundation of their profession by reviewing the basics in oil spill response procedures, multiple containment methods and successful recovery maneuvers.
“Every year this facility receives a three to five day training course to make sure their certification is current,” said Bill Tageson, a contractor with Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center. “If there are changes to regulations or anything that could affect their mission, then I want to ensure they’re up to date, especially for the new troops coming in. New personnel receive their first certification card once they complete the training and personnel who have been trained before receive a refresher card, which are both valid for one year.”
Once FRT personnel fully reviewed the dense course material, Tageson assessed equipment with personnel before leaving the harbor to conduct an oil spill response practical application.
The intercom alerted personnel of a simulated oil spill and in minutes the team boarded their boats and deployed from port to the contaminated site.
Personnel then strategically guided the containment boom, a temporary floating barrier, around the spill site to control the oil and began their oil spill recovery maneuvers.
“Along with the training that we do on our own, this exercise lets us practice different techniques like the J-Leg, U-Leg and V-Leg methods, notice our flaws and work to become better,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Cruz, leading petty officer of FRT oil response. “We put new sailors in new positions to put them to the test and make sure everyone could perform every job needed to be successful.”
Oil spills can occur on land or in water and can affect the biological and ecological attributes of an area for short or long term periods.
To avoid such damage to the ecosystem, this annual oil spill response training is paramount in order to maintain readiness and efficiency in the event of an oil spill.
“This week definitely highlighted certain areas the team needs to work on and practice makes perfect” said Tageson. “The extreme wind and cold were huge factors this week and although it was harsh on personnel, this is what they needed to better their proficiency in oil spill response for the future.”