Latest news with #Tyvek
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
China suspends antitrust investigation into DuPont's Tyvek business
July 23 (Reuters) - DuPont (DD.N), opens new tab said on Wednesday that Chinese regulators have suspended an antitrust investigation into its Tyvek business. The country's market regulator had in April launched an investigation into the chemical company's China group for alleged violation of the anti-monopoly law. DuPont did not disclose why the probe was halted.
National Geographic
09-07-2025
- General
- National Geographic
Meet the man who sinks the world's biggest ships for a living
How a professional ship-sinker is about to turn a famous ocean liner into the world's largest artificial reef The SS United States is towed at sunset past Key West, Fla., headed to Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, where it will be prepared to be used as an artificial reef off Florida's Gulf Coast. Photograph by Rob O'Neal, The Key West Citizen/ AP Photo Deep in the belly of the S.S. United States, some seven decks below the first-class lobby once graced by John F. Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor, Captain Tim Mullane stands inside one of the liner's 120 fuel tanks and stares up at a 30-foot wall slathered in oil. Armed with a power washer and outfitted in a white Tyvek suit and rubber boots, the 54-year-old Navy veteran pulls the trigger and blasts away. Mullane sinks ships for a living and he's prepping the United States, one of the biggest ocean liners ever built, for its soon-to-be home on the sea floor off the coast of Florida's Okaloosa County, where it will transform into the largest artificial reef on the planet. Along with a 30-person crew, Mullane is in the middle of a six-month process clearing all toxic materials from the ship and preparing its interior to be flooded with water, all in the hopes that, on the fateful day, the ship will arrive upright, toxin-free, and in one piece. 'We're the morticians of the ship, taking it to its final resting place,' he says. Mullane is equal parts ship-sinker and reef maker—a deep-see reef deployer, as the dozen or so working in the U.S. are known. The business of turning old ships into new reefs first took off in the 1980s and 1990s, when many World War II warships were decommissioned and scuttled. In the U.S., the practice has primarily been focused in the waters off the East and Gulf Coasts as counties and states have invested in the subaquatic tourism industry. More artificial reefs mean more divers, which means more economic revenue for beach towns. It's why Okaloosa County paid $1 million to the S.S. United States Conservancy to purchase the ship that sat rusting away for nearly three decades at a Philadelphia dock. For Mullane, who co-founded his company, Coleen Marine, with his wife Coleen O'Malley in 2014, ships have been an ever-present part of life. After four years in the Navy, he worked in the shipbreaking industry, where he sliced old hulks into shards and sold them for parts before melting what remained. Then, in 2002, the state of Florida approached him with a curious job. State officials were looking for someone to fully strip and clean the U.S.S. Spiegel Grove, a Cold War-era Navy transport ship that had been relegated to the military's mothball fleet on the James River in Virginia. But the Spiegel Grove wasn't being sold for parts—it was slated to become a diving destination off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. Mullane jumped at the opportunity. 'I've always looked for a niche, and the Spiegel Grove opened my eyes,' he says. (Shipwrecks may help tropical fish adapt to climate change.) Magazine for all ages starting at $25/year Since then, O'Malley estimates that 75 percent of their business has gone to creating artificial reefs, with the remaining jobs going to sinking ships offshore to protect coastlines and prevent beach erosion. Each job is different, just as each ship is different. But the broad strokes are the same: paint needs to be chipped off the railings, fuel tanks need to be power-washed, portholes must be popped out, and insulation materials removed. It would seemingly be easy, then, for the hundred-plus contracts to blend together—an endless series of tasks and to-dos until the final box is checked and water comes rushing in and it's on to the next job. Yet even as his books have filled, Mullane knows that many of the ships he has sunk have held a special place in the hearts of passengers and crew who rode upon them. 'To lose them, it's pretty depressing,' Mullane says. The SS United States during her speed trials. Photograph courtesy of Charles Anderson, SS United States Conservancy Archives Collection The S.S. United States is currently docked at a pier in Mobile Bay, Alabama, where Mullane and his team are stripping away hazardous material that could harm sea life. The paint that once gleamed now looks like crocodile scales. More than 300 portholes have been removed, with a couple hundred more to go. Four massive propellers have been detached. And in a couple weeks, a 200-foot crane will be called in to hoist away the two iconic 65-foot funnels. 'There is not a bigger project,' says O'Malley, 'and there will never be a bigger one because they don't build ships like this anymore.' To become an artificial reef, ships must adhere to local and national regulations in place to protect marine life that will make it their home. Assisting Mullane to ensure the United States meets the requirements is Alex Fogg, a marine biologist hired by Okaloosa County who advises on artificial reefing projects. Fogg and Mullane have check-ins each morning before coffee to lay out what the day's tasks will entail. Once Mullane's team is done popping portholes and blasting away oil residue, Fogg will inspect the ship to certify that the required toxic substances have been removed. 'The S.S. United States is certainly the Everest of a project,' Fogg says, noting that after he's done his pass, the EPA and other regulatory agencies will inspect the ship to ensure it meets state and federal standards. Once that's done, they can schedule the actual sinking, which Mullane hopes will happen in November. To send the United States to her watery grave, Mullane's team will fill all 120 fuel tanks with 1.75 million gallons of water before a tugboat pulls the ship 150 miles to the reefing spot off the Florida coast. Then comes the tricky part. At strategic spots along the external hull, just a few feet above the waterline, the 20 crew members onboard will use high-power blowtorches to sear open dozens of holes. Using firehoses, they'll blast seawater into compartments throughout the ship to flood the ship's bowels. (Visiting shipwrecks is suddenly a lot easier than you think.) As coordinated, scheduled, and regulated as Mullane's plan is, there's still a hefty amount of risk involved. If water is pumped in unevenly or if the hull starts taking on water too early, the ship could sink prematurely or roll over with crew aboard. That's what nearly happened in 2002 with the Spiegel Grove. After Mullane's crew was finished stripping and cleaning the ship, a separate volunteer team was brought on by the state of Florida to sink the ship. But before they were ready, the ship capsized and only partially sank, requiring the state to hire a company to come in and finish the job as it bobbed upside down in the Atlantic. To avoid this fate, Fogg and Mullane will work with a team of engineers in the weeks before the sinking and create a model of the ship to understand where the holes need to be cut so that the liner sinks upright. Provided everything goes according to plan in November, as seawater breaches the holes cut into the hull and floods the ship's belly, Mullane's crew will evacuate by hopping onto a nearby tugboat, with Mullane being the last one to step off. Once the United States starts sinking, he estimates it'll take less than 45 minutes for the ship to make it 180 feet down to the seafloor. Back inside the fuel tank, Mullane drops the power-washer and climbs the ladder out of the tank. 'You leave with oil in places that you question how it got there,' Mullane says with a gruff laugh. The captain maneuvers his way through a maze of shadowy corridors littered with paint chips, then up a few flights of steps to the sprawling deck. He stares up at its two funnels still cutting into the sky. 'Some days, I sit on part of the ship and just look at her,' Mullane says, 'She is just a beautiful ship.'
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TekniPlex opens facility in Wisconsin
TekniPlex Healthcare has initiated production at its newly established 200,000ft² facility in Madison, Wisconsin. Located at 6002 Femrite Drive, this site is expected to enhance the company's Barrier Protection Systems business. According to the company, the new location seeks to merge manufacturing technologies with expertise in materials science. This strategy aims to broaden capabilities and improve access to protective solutions throughout North America and internationally. This facility will help boost TekniPlex Healthcare's support for medical device and pharmaceutical firms. It is designed to ensure 'reliable' access to sterile barrier packaging for hospitals, outpatient surgical centres, laboratories, and patients, stated the company. The Madison plant has received ISO 13485:2016 quality management system certification. As TekniPlex Healthcare's second site in Madison, it will concentrate on creating coated and printed solutions. These products are crucial for safeguarding medical devices and wound care products from contaminants, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. The new plant is equipped with modern manufacturing infrastructure, including an air knife coater, added the company. This machinery will help the company boost the supply of coated Tyvek and heat-seal coated reinforced papers for various sterilisation barrier applications. Furthermore, the facility features a wide-width eight-colour high-definition flexographic printing press. This technology enables TekniPlex Healthcare to fulfil stringent healthcare printing requirements while maintaining a near-zero waste manufacturing process. Sustainability is a primary focus for the new facility, which has adopted an eco-friendly design approach. The company states that at least 95% of the waste produced by the facility is recyclable. Looking forward, the facility has plans for future expansion opportunities. These include the addition of a second flexographic printer, a cantilevered slitter rewinder, and a reversible salvage rewinder. TekniPlex Healthcare CEO Suj Mehta said: 'Our new flagship facility exemplifies TekniPlex Healthcare's mission of improving patient care through solutions that protect, preserve, and perform. The products manufactured here directly impact patients' lives. 'As a dedicated hub, the site not only expands our capacity and provides customers with supply chain assurances, but also serves as a knowledge base to build upon and maximise our leadership in barrier protection materials science.' In October 2024, TekniPlex Healthcare introduced its new bio-based medical-grade polyvinyl chloride compounds. "TekniPlex opens facility in Wisconsin" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Winnipeg Free Press
09-06-2025
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tiny creatures of the night are dying in record numbers in Manitoba
The lecture room at FortWhyte Alive is dimly lit, the soft glow from the projector casting shadows on the walls as the audience settles in. All eyes are on the screen as Craig Willis adjusts his slides. 'Bats tend to get a bad rap,' he begins, his voice echoing slightly in the space. 'People think they're creepy, but they are some of the most incredible mammals on Earth.' The first slide appears — an image of a little brown bat, a tiny creature that weighs only as much as a couple of loonies. The room fills with the eerie, high-pitched sounds of echolocation, projected from the speakers in rapid bursts. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS University of Winnipeg lab manager Kaleigh Norquay (left) and biology professor Craig Willis share a fascination with bats. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS University of Winnipeg lab manager Kaleigh Norquay (left) and biology professor Craig Willis share a fascination with bats. 'They scream into the night, sending out high-frequency calls,' Willis explains, as a graph displays the peaks and valleys of sound waves. 'This is how they perceive the world — listening for echoes that bounce off objects, shaping their environment in complete darkness. 'And if you like margaritas,' he adds with a grin, flipping to the next slide of a blooming agave plant, 'you can thank bats. They pollinate the agave plant — without them, no tequila, no mezcal.' Laughter runs through the room, but as the slides change, the mood sobers. The colourful images of bats soon give way to stark graphs and grim statistics. The twin threats of white-nose syndrome and wind turbines loom heavy over bat populations. It's a sun-soaked afternoon and the prairie crocus, Manitoba's floral emblem, is blooming in delicate sunbursts along the forest floor. At the entrance to Lake St. George Bat Cave, Malcolm Reimer and Kaleigh Norquay, both working under Craig Willis at the University of Winnipeg, adjust their crisp white Tyvek suits, preparing for another day of crucial bat research. It's a sun-soaked afternoon and the prairie crocus, Manitoba's floral emblem, is blooming in delicate sunbursts along the forest floor. At the entrance to Lake St. George Bat Cave, Malcolm Reimer and Kaleigh Norquay, both working under Craig Willis at the University of Winnipeg, adjust their crisp white Tyvek suits, preparing for another day of crucial bat research. As always, ensuring they aren't inadvertently spreading white-nose syndrome is top priority. 'We have to make sure we're not the reason the fungus moves from one site to another,' Norquay explains, checking the contents of their decontamination kit — gloves, disinfecting wipes, isopropyl alcohol and alcohol swabs. Nothing crosses the invisible boundary at the entrance without a thorough cleaning. Inside the aluminum cage that guards the cave, Reimer inspects the batteries, running a voltage meter over them. 'Our main mission here is to make sure our tag scanner is working and that the solar panel is feeding enough power to the batteries,' he explains. 'It keeps the antennae turned on, allowing us to track every tagged bat as it comes out of the cave.' The Biomark system specialists sit neatly tucked in a plastic box, crucial for keeping their identification solutions running smoothly. Beyond the cage, nestled deeper in the mixed boreal forest, three solar panels stand behind the cave, soaking up the sunlight that powers their delicate tracking systems. The panels keep the PIT tag scanners operational, ensuring researchers can detect the movement of microchipped bats as they emerged. But nature has left its mark — deep gouges run across one of the panels, unmistakable signs of a black bear's claws. As Reimer clicks through footage on the game camera pointed at the entrance, an image flickers onto the laptop screen — a pine marten, caught on video in February 2024. 'It's still sniffing around. We've recorded them waiting at the entrance, snatching bats midair. Most of the bats roost high up on the ceiling, but the ones lower down are easy prey,' he says. Norquay frowns. 'We think the pine martens go inside the cave to disturb the bats, then they wait for them to fly out and grab them with their jaws.' The Little Brown Bats and Northern Long-Eared Bats, species hibernating here, are endangered both federally and provincially. It isn't just survival against the elements — it's survival against predators, too. They've been discussing mitigation efforts. 'Pine martens aren't endangered or threatened in Manitoba, but these bats are. It's complicated because this is an ecological reserve. Removing a predator is difficult, both logistically and legally,' Reimer says. They can do nothing or try to build a barrier to keep the martens from the cave's entrance, but the right course of action is uncertain. As Reimer — who is completing his master's degree in bioscience, technology and public policy — prepares fresh batteries, Norquay — the manager of the University of Winnipeg's 'Bat Lab'— inserts a newly formatted SD card into the game camera. 'We'll take the old one back to the lab and download everything. Hopefully, we can characterize some of the pine marten's behaviour and figure out how often it's visiting the cave,' she says. But they aren't just monitoring one cave. 'We have scanner systems at three other sites in Manitoba and one outside the province. It'll help us track if bats move between caves to hibernate,' Reimer says. Some bats were loyal to their original cave, but records showed others making the journey from one site to another. Technology has expanded their research beyond tracking. Norquay gestures toward the Motus tower, one of many across North America. 'Originally, these towers were used for tracking birds, but we use them for bats, too,' she explains. Small radio transmitters are glued to the bats' backs (they fall off after a few weeks), allowing researchers to track their movements when they pass by any tower in the extensive network. A year ago, a postdoctoral student tagged 40 bats, while Reimer experimented with temperature-sensitive tags. A small local weather station stands further back in the forest, monitoring rainfall, wind speed and humidity — factors that might influence when bats emerge from hibernation. 'It's good to have environmental data right here at the cave entrance. It helps us figure out how local conditions affect their behaviour,' Reimer notes. Norquay sighs, looking over the limestone entrance. 'The coolest part of my job is getting to visit these secret places — seeing wildlife and a world that most people never get to experience,' she says. Reimer nods. 'It's a lot of work. You have to meet the bats where they are, but in the process you see some incredible places.' Their research is ongoing, the puzzle pieces still falling into place. But as the sun dips lower in the sky, casting golden streaks over the cage entrance, one thing is certain — beneath the earth, thousands of bats are stirring, preparing for their return to the world above. — Martin Zelig 'White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease that arrived here from Europe or Asia about 15 years ago,' Willis says, pointing to a chart displaying population declines. 'It's killed millions. Each of those bats would have consumed a kilogram of insects per summer.' Research suggests that in areas where bat populations declined due to white nose syndrome, farmers increased pesticide use and infant mortality rates also rose, he says, adding that while the study found a correlation, further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between pesticide exposure and infant health. He flips another slide — an image of wind turbines stretching across a sunset. 'And then, there's this. Migratory bats — the hoary bat, the eastern red bat, the silver-haired bat — are dying in enormous numbers as they fly south in the fall.' The graphs tell the story in stark detail, with sharp declines year after year. 'We need solutions. The deaths occur mainly at night, during fall migration, when the winds are low and the turbines aren't generating much energy anyway. If operators adjusted how turbines function during those times we could save countless bats without sacrificing renewable energy production,'he says, leaning forward. Free Press files The little brown bat is a tiny creature that weighs about eight grams. Free Press files The little brown bat is a tiny creature that weighs about eight grams. He pauses, scanning the audience. The weight of his words hangs in the air. 'Manitoba lacks guidelines for this. We need them. If you care about nature, about agriculture, about biodiversity — write to your MLA, to Premier (Wab) Kinew's office, to the environment minister. Push for the adoption of Alberta's wind energy guidelines,' he says. The lecture draws to a close, but the conversation has only just begun. Some attendees linger, discussing the slides, the sounds and the data. Others walk away with a newfound urgency, their thoughts swirling like the silent wings of bats — creatures whose fate now rests in the hands of those willing to act. It is valuable not only to preserve bat species in the short term, but also for future generations to enjoy. Craig Willis hadn't always known he would dedicate his career to the mysterious world of bats. Growing up in southern Ontario, he had always loved nature — the vast lakes, winding forests and the sense of adventure that came with summer camps and canoe trips. But back then, bats were just shadowy figures darting through the twilight, not yet the obsession they would become. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Norquay displays a PIT chip, used to track bat movements. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Norquay displays a PIT chip, used to track bat movements. During his early undergraduate years at Queen's University, Willis was, admittedly, a little directionless. But that all changed when he stumbled into an immersive two-week field course in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia — a place teeming with bats, the most diverse hot spot for the species in Canada. On the second floor of the Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex at the University of Winnipeg sits an unassuming space known simply as the Bat Lab. Prof. Craig Willis, a seasoned biologist and chair of the graduate program in biology, prefers to call himself the 'chief bat nerd,' though his title is far more official. 'And bottle washer, though I don't actually wash any bottles,' he quips with a chuckle. 'I run the operation.' On the second floor of the Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex at the University of Winnipeg sits an unassuming space known simply as the Bat Lab. Prof. Craig Willis, a seasoned biologist and chair of the graduate program in biology, prefers to call himself the 'chief bat nerd,' though his title is far more official. 'And bottle washer, though I don't actually wash any bottles,' he quips with a chuckle. 'I run the operation.' But this Bat Lab isn't a sprawling high-tech research facility — it's more of a hybrid workspace. Part storage, part office, part launchpad for fieldwork. 'We're surrounded by shelves filled with equipment, old research journals and even a refrigerator — though not for any bats,' Willis jokes. 'It's 300 to 400 square feet of brainpower.' But if you think this is the lab's only home, think again. A space on the fourth floor, affectionately called the 'Bat Cave,' was once used for live bat research. 'Until a few years ago we worked on conservation questions with live bats up there. We haven't returned to those projects yet, but the Bat Cave is still part of our research world,' Willis says. Bat houses, a tool for studying and conserving bat populations, play a crucial role in the lab's work. Kaleigh Norquay, manager of the Bat Lab, points one out. 'This one's primarily used for demonstration, but people can buy them commercially. Some species love them, others aren't impressed,' Willis explains. Painted black and built from heavy-duty plywood, the structures are designed to mimic natural roosts. Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) and Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) use them often. 'If folks think they have a bat colony in their home, it's worth checking for gaps in siding, chimneys and other small openings,' he advises. Pranav Sadana, a graduate student, is deep into his master's thesis on little brown bat ecophysiology — how they prepare for hibernation and its impact on genetics. 'Bats are incredible mammals,' Sadana says enthusiastically. 'They're the only ones capable of true flight, which requires massive energy expenditure.' Their biology is a perfect case study in physiological adaptation. 'Small mammals with high energy needs — it's fascinating to study how they sustain themselves,' he adds. For over a decade, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has been a major supporter of the Bat Lab's work on white-nose syndrome, the devastating disease that has wiped out millions of bats. 'But with political changes south of the border, funding is becoming more uncertain. Even Canadian scientists who collaborate with American researchers are affected,' Willis admits. Despite the challenges, Willis remains optimistic. 'We're pushing forward. We have some funding from Canadian agencies, and I'm in talks with American colleagues about new funding opportunities, including a proposal to the National Science Foundation. If successful, it'll help us better understand bat physiology and support ongoing research.' — Martin Zeilig Something clicked during that course. Midway through, Willis knew this was the life he wanted: studying bats, unravelling their mysteries and working alongside brilliant students. Though he's studied various animals throughout his career, bats have remained his true calling. For the last 20 years, he's been at the University of Winnipeg, unlocking secrets about bat biology and behaviour. He also spent two years in Australia, completing postdoctoral research on bats, and catching glimpses of their elusive forms in Central America, always working with experts who knew bat research inside and out. One of Willis's biggest fascinations is hibernation. Few creatures are as masterful at conserving energy through the long winter as bats. Manitoba's bats endure hibernation periods as long as any other species — perhaps Arctic ground squirrels could rival them, but bats have evolved incredible adaptations to stretch their energy savings even further. And their social lives add an extra layer of intrigue. While he doesn't get to do as much fieldwork these days, Willis finds joy in working with sharp, motivated students who, in his words, 'know what they're doing.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS University of Winnipeg biology professor Craig Willis MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS University of Winnipeg biology professor Craig Willis When he does tag along, he's often the one asking for guidance, he says with a laugh. But that's the beauty of academia — passing on knowledge, watching bright minds take flight. For Willis, studying bats isn't just about science, it's about preserving Canada's natural heritage. Bats are an integral part of the country's ecosystems, and ensuring their survival isn't just a short-term goal — it's about protecting them for future generations, allowing others to marvel at these creatures the way he once did as a wide-eyed student in the Okanagan Valley. And so, his journey continues — a life shaped by chance, by passionate mentors, and by these fascinating nocturnal creatures. arts@ Bruce Bumstead / Brandon Sun files A brown bat clings to the bark on a tree in the Keystone Centre grounds.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
42nd ABW Mortuary Affairs Team practice thorough site recovery methods
Maxwell Air Force Base - Airmen from the 42nd Force Support Squadron recently participated in a search and recovery exercise on March 28, designed to simulate the aftermath of a tornado strike, preparing them for the emotional and technical demands of mortuary affairs. The three-hour exercise, held at the Maxwell-Gunter Annex's laser tag facility, featured four search zones filled with simulated debris, personal effects, and simulated human remains. Airmen worked in teams to locate, identify, tag, and recover items ranging from earrings to full-body mannequins. 'This particular exercise was if a tornado hit, Maxwell AFB and we had to basically search and recover people's remains,' said 2nd Lt. Shelby Pinner, 42nd FSS career development officer. 'We have very specific procedures and a way of doing it, and so we go out in teams.' More: A legacy of giving: Honoring Alabama native Herman Colvin's military service Pinner noted that while the scenario focused on a tornado, the training had broader applications. 'These skills are applicable in various situations, including aircraft incidents and other catastrophic events,' Pinner said. The exercise also emphasized the importance of documentation. Each find was carefully bagged, tagged, and recorded. 'You have to be specific but vague,' Pinner said. 'If you find a watch, you just say 'gold watch.' But when you're labeling body parts, you want to be a little more specific, so if you find a finger, you'd say, a digit.' The exercise was developed and led by Christine Bushby, 42nd FSS mortuary readiness and plans specialist, who has nearly 28 years of experience in the field. 'You have to be very meticulous,' Bushby said. 'You can come across remains, personal effects something that could potentially identify that person, if for whatever reason, they weren't visually identifiable or found.' Airmen donned Tyvek suits and personal protective equipment as they navigated a dim, obstacle-filled environment meant to mimic a real-world disaster scene. A classroom briefing, held the day before, covered anatomy, disaster mental health, bioenvironmental hazard assessments, bloodborne pathogens and mortuary procedures. 'You see a drawing or rendition of the body parts, but when you're actually searching, it's going to look a little bit different,' Bushby said. 'Debris may be covering it, or there may be damage or trauma to the tissue. So we have to be very meticulous, we ultimately want to recover as much as possible for the families.' Bushby, who has responded to major disasters including the 2011 and 2019 Alabama tornadoes, when working for the state, emphasized that the work can be emotionally taxing but profoundly meaningful. 'When they understand the bigger picture, that we are working to recover someone's loved one, someone's son or daughter they realize it's about something greater than themselves,' Bushby said. 'They start to think, if the roles were reversed, they'd want others to do the same for them.' More: Crusader of the Month at Maxwell AFB in Alabama: Senior Airman Joseph Rivera The exercise was observed by representatives from the 42nd Inspector General's office, who evaluated the teams adherence to mortuary affairs protocols and overall readiness. 'We kind of push the limits to see how uncomfortable we can get but still do our jobs,' Bushby said. 'Commanders should be able to feel confident that we are going to do something that nobody else is required to do and we are ready to perform.' 'The camaraderie built during the exercise was impactful because it was both lieutenants and everybody else,' Pinner said. 'It created that camaraderie for us in the Military Personnel Flight.' The 42nd Force Support Squadron conducts mortuary affairs training annually to ensure personnel remain proficient and mission-ready for real-world contingencies. 'We're the cradle to the grave,' said Bushby. 'People don't like to see me come out, but when things happen, I'm the point for that.' This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: 42nd ABW Mortuary Affairs Team practice thorough site recovery methods
