Interagency Resolve

UNIPATH STAFF

A missile carrying sulfur mustard explodes in the exclusive residential Pearl-Qatar waterfront shopping district. Men, women and children struggle with shrapnel wounds as well as the onset of blisters and other symptoms caused by the chemical warfare agent.

Before the missile even landed, the Qatari Armed Forces and coalition members prepared to respond. Their intelligence had warned of the imminent attack, and radar confirmed the missile launch.

Harnessing all of their resources, military officials coordinated a massive interagency and multinational response as part of the broad consequence-management training umbrella of the Eagle Resolve 2013 military exercises.

Seconds after the missile hit, teams in hazardous material suits responded, using chemical agent monitors to establish a perimeter and begin treating the injured.

Within 10 minutes, a nearby parking lot was transformed into a large decontamination and triage site. Teams of military doctors, a local fire brigade, hospital workers and officials from nongovernmental organizations ran from trucks carrying mounds of supplies in preparation for the onslaught of victims.
Qatari Maj. Dr. Amy A. Wahab H. Morsi was site commander for the chemical weapon attack. “I think this is one of the most important ones in Eagle Resolve,” he said.

Participants included members of the ministries of defense, interior and health, as well as firefighters, police officers, Soldiers and ambulance workers. Members of the Civil Aviation Authority observed the training in the event of a similar attack on an airport. In all, the responders were able to decontaminate and send 200 people for treatment within an hour of the attack.

“We share our experiences together so we can be the best,” Morsi said.

Sometimes even the simplest of techniques can make a big difference during a mass-casualty scenario. For instance, after victims went through decontamination, they were triaged into treatment categories using red, yellow and green tents to ensure transport to the appropriate field hospital, provided by Qatar’s Hamad General Hospital.

U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jamil Dudley, a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear warfare specialist who observed the exercise, said he had not seen the colored triage tents before and thought they would be an effective and easy tool to implement. “With a situation like this, with mass confusion, a visual aid like that is very useful,” he said. Dudley described the entire exercise at the Pearl-Qatar as “seamless.”

Mohammad Barakat, senior supervisor for medical services for the Qatari Red Crescent, said his organization often works with the government and the military to ensure synchronization, and training such as Eagle Resolve is a welcome way to improve civil-military relationships.

“This drill and training will improve our working relationship and how to act in an emergency,” Barakat said. “This also tests our preparedness.”
Those were precisely the sentiments of U.A.E. Lt. Col. Dr. Ahmed M. Humaid, who commanded the field hospital. “It’s important to enrich the experience and prepare ourselves as a region for any threat that could occur,” he said.

Qatari interagency coordination occurred throughout Eagle Resolve. During a mock terrorist takeover of an airport control tower, exercise planners worked with the Qatar Foundation to use one of its buildings as a simulated control tower. Qatari Internal Security Services coordinated the response with the multinational special operations forces, as did the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which provided a hostage negotiator. During a terrorist takeover of a gas and oil platform, the Qatar Gas Foundation provided a site for the training.

“It’s important that all those responsible for security in the nation are cooperating in a variety of ways,” said Qatari Maj. Ahmed Yousif M. al-Mulla, head of training services for Internal Security Force.

U.S. Lt. Cmdr. Kurt Muhler (SEAL) Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force called the interagency coordination impressive and highly useful as training for potential threats. “In the real world, these places could be actual targets,” Muhler said. “This is a great opportunity for us.
It was fantastic.”