Texas Guard, Czech army trains for disaster in Operation Lonestar
Staff Sgt. Daniel Griego
Texas National Guard
August 10, 2010
Texas National Guard
August 10, 2010
For the joint members of the Texas Military Forces, the Department of State Health Services and local civil agencies, preparedness means more than a ready standing force.
With the persistent threat of hurricanes, flooding and seasonal pandemics, preparedness requires a fully trained, joint force capable of engaging a large-scale incident anywhere in the state.
“What we do and what we’re training for is a mass casualty,” said Texas State Guard Capt. James R. Owens, a registered nurse with the DFW Medical Group. “It’s about taking care of the population.”
This year, these state assets used the annual humanitarian event Operation Lone Star to conduct a complete exercise simulating a mass casualty incident. Providing the Rio Grande Valley with immunizations, physicals and various other medical services, the mission sought to stress and challenge the capabilities of state military and civilian departments, as well as reinforce their cooperation and inter-agency communication.
