Photo By Jefferson Wolfe | Members of the 773rd Civil Support Team and the Spanish Unidad Militar de Emergencias...... read more read more Photo By Jefferson Wolfe | Members of the 773rd Civil Support Team and the Spanish Unidad Militar de Emergencias compare readings on their instruments at a table simulating production of methamphetamine during the exercise Ocean Response Feb. 11, 2016 at Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Germany. The 773rd and the UME trained along with members of the Slovenian army during the exercise. (Photo by Lt. Col. Jefferson Wolfe, 7th Mission Support Command public affairs office) see less | View Image Page

By Lt. Col. Jefferson Wolfe

7th Mission Support Command Public Affairs Officer



RHINE ORDNANCE BARRACKS, Germany — Despite cold and rainy conditions, Soldiers from three countries trained together to improve their ability to respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.



A team from Spain’s Unidad Militar de Emergencias joined the Army Reserve’s 773rd Civil Support Team and members of the Slovenian army for the week-long CBRN exercise Ocean Response.



“For us, its’ a real opportunity to work together, to improve,” said Lt. Col. Carlos Armada, the chief of the Spanish UME. “We’re really happy to be here.”



Both the 773rd CST and UME use NATO protocols and procedures, he said. Collaborating in a focused exercise leaves both teams ready to face a CBRN incident, he added.



“I am very happy to be here, and I am open to collaborate again, anytime, anywhere,” Armada said.



The exercise continued the relationship first built during exercise Daimel 2015 in Spain last year. Both units conduct similar CBRN response missions.



“They are a capable partner and we both learn from each other,” said Lt. Col. U. L. Armstrong Jr., the 773rd CST commander.



Although there are some differences between the units, there are many similar capabilities as well, he said.



“The way they proceed through a problem might be a little differently than the United States would proceed through the problem,” said Lt. Col. Michael Ballerstein, the deputy commander of the 773rd.



During Ocean Response, the teams conducted training at American facilities in Baumholder and Miesau before heading to ROB for the culminating event.



The weather in Germany was just above freezing, and the strong with and light rain made conditions frigid for the outdoor part of the exercise. It was much colder than the Soldiers from Spain were used to.



“We normally don’t work in these kinds of weather conditions,” said Cpl. Adrian Leadbeater, a member of the UME, who added in Spain they usually see temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius, which is about 68 degrees Fahrenheit.



“The Spanish army can work through it,” he said. “It’s not an obstacle.”



Wednesday’s scenario required the CBRN responders to conduct a CBRN rescue and decontamination outside. Then, they entered a nearby warehouse for training on detection, sampling and identification missions.



The Spanish and American teams suited up and worked side-by-side, conducting all the tasks together.



“We like working with the United States Army,” Leadbeater said. “We have the same principles.”



The whole week of interoperability training was valuable, Armada said.



At Baumholder, the Spanish UME staged their mobile laboratory. There are no others in Europe quite like it, offering both advanced field testing capabilities and communication technology to increase interoperability, Armada said.



It was not involved in Wednesday’s training at ROB, but the teams did get a chance to learn about it during the rest of the week.



“One of the many objectives in this kind of training is working together for the future,” he said. “We are ready to work together in the future.”



The 773rd CST and the UME will be working together again in April in Spain during the consequence management exercise Gamma 16.