Trainers

 My name is Claude McLeod Overstreet and I am a Chief Warrant Officer 2 serving with South Harbor Detachment 2 of the Maritime Support Command of the California State Military Reserve.  We were officially activated  in March 2017 aboard the USS Hornet in the San Francisco Bay.   

Until last summer, I was Platoon Leader/Operations Tech with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, California State Military Reserve (CSMR).  Mission was Search and Rescue.

     I was born 15 DEC 1954 and grew up in Bedford County, Virginia until age 18, when I joined the U.S. Air Force.

I have been active with the CSMR since NOV 2000.  I graduated from Warrant Officer Basic Course 9-03, held at Camp San Luis Obispo 11-14 SEP 03.  Date of my last promotion is 15 NOV 2003.

     During my CSMR career, I served as the Communications Officer with the 40th Infantry Support Brigade for 8 years.  Stepped up to become one of the initial Common Task Training (CTT) Instructors in 2001 and taught a variety of classes on NBC, MOPP procedures, First Aid, Mine Detection, rifle maintenance, and Depleted Uranium Munitions Safety.  I was selected for a special project, beginning 1-3 OCT04, and was sent to B.T Collins Reserve Center in Sacramento, CA to help prepare the new IC4U Interoperability Communications Shelter for production and deployment.  We prepared a preliminary Operations Manual for the IC4U.  Obtained a HMMWV license 12FEB05.  Selected again 1-5APR05 to travel to OTAG to prepare, test, and drive the IC4U, now mounted on a HMMWV, to the 240th Signal Company in Compton, California.

     I was selected to attend the Warrant Officer MOS training held at Camp San Luis Obispo 3-7MAY05.  Upon completion, I was awarded the 915A MOS “Ordnance Maintenance Technician.”  I graduated from CSMR BOC Class 13-02 held 18-20 OCT 2013.

     I volunteered for the short lived “Stand Up Team” for CSMR Emergency Support of the Guard.  Completed the AIPD 081 F1705 “CBRNE Emergency Operations and Response Course” and the 118 Hour “Unit NBC Officer/NCO Refresher Course.” 

     In my time with the 40th, I obtained 17 Motorola HT 1000 handheld radios, 1 MT 2000 handheld radio, and 11 mobile radios from the Army Corps of Engineers in 2006.

     Because of my broad spiritual education in Metaphysical Science, I spent time as a Chaplain Manager under Chaplain Fowler, supporting 11 Chaplains in their duties.   

     I transferred to the Military Police in May 2009 and was assigned to my current unit in late 2012.  I completed all of the Initial Entry Force Training, attended the Terrorism Liaison Officer Basic Course, certified in PC 832 in MAR04 and again in 2011.  I taught a class on Air Force history at CSMR BOC in the summer of 2011.  Current in Combat Lifesaver (CLS) as of  JUN 17 and volunteer as a CLS Assistant Instructor.  My last re-certification and assistant Instructor experience was 18 JUN 16.   I participated in a joint CSMR MP and L.A. County Sheriff’s Active Shooter Exercise at Los Alamitos JFTB in April of 2013.  Did a FTX at Camp San Luis Obispo 1-5 AUG 2013 and participated in an FTX with 1st Bn/2nd BDE SMPs 21 SEP 13 at the old El Toro MCAS.

     I am the “Father” of the Military Emergency Response Team (MERT) concept, meaning I wrote the preliminary ideas down as part of the S3 in the old 40th, and was among the first to complete requirements for the Basic MEMS Badge.

          I entered the U.S. Air Force on June 27th, 1973 and remained for a career.

     I retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in August 1996 as a Senior Master Sergeant (E-8).  My military time included eight years of Active Duty service, 13 Months of active duty reserve time for Radiology Tech School, plus mobilization time for Desert Shield/Storm operations. Fifteen years were spent in the Reserves at March AFB with the 414th Medical Support Squadron and the 452nd Medical Squadron.   I was, for a short time, the First Sergeant of the 452nd Medical Squadron.  My military career included time as a Ground and Airborne Radio Operator (Air Force Specialty Code {AFSC} 4C171) for

Strategic Air Command Headquarters and the Air Force Communications Service Aeronautical Station operator at Lajes Field, Azores, a High Altitude Balloon Research Technician with the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory at Holloman AFB (where I was an aircrew member), an Experimental Rocket Propulsion Technician at the A.F. Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at Edwards AFB (Instrumentation Technician AFSC 2E851), a Radiologic Technologist (AFSC 4R090), Emergency Medical Technician, Bio-Environmental Engineering Technician Trainee (AFSC 4B011) and as an Aeromedical Specialist Trainee (AFSC 4F011). A note on the final two AFSCs noted above.  The unit was downsizing and I was the Shop Chief for both Bioenvironmental Engineering and Military Public Health at the time.  I had certificates in HAZWOPER, Incident Commander, and First Responder Hazardous Materials from West L.A. College which gave me the basic knowledge and skills to work in the field.  I was in that leadership position for over 2 years and was scheduled to attend formal schooling, but it was cancelled due to unit restructuring.  I was then assigned as an Aeromedical Technician (EMT Certified) doing physical exams, but elected to retire shortly thereafter rather than have my rank reduced as part of the force restructure and drawdown.

  Attended Aircrew Training at Reese AFB in 1978 and attended Aircrew Survival Training at Holloman AFB and Edwards AFB.  During my time in Communications, I possessed a Top Secret clearance with Background Investigation.

     Formal Education:  Graduated from Liberty High School in Bedford, Virginia in June of 1973.  Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management from Southern Illinois University (With Honors), a BS Degree in Metaphysical Science (currently completing a Master’s Degree in this field), and have Associate Degrees in Radiologic Technology and Electronics Systems Technology.  Have Certificates in Nuclear Medicine Technology and Radiologic Technology, both from Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center and a Work Certificate from L.A. Valley College in Biomedical Electronics..

     Currently, I am a licensed Nuclear Medicine Technologist, a licensed Radiologic Technologist, an Emergency Medical Technician, a licensed Pharmacy Technician, and  a 16 Hour First Responder Awareness/Operations HAZMAT Certificate dated 9 MAR 14.  I am also a licensed General Class Amateur Radio Operator.

      I am employed as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist II at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, CA.  My main career has been in Nuclear Medicine; however my license in Radiologic Technology is used to perform Bone Densitometry. I am going to be trained inhouse as a Computerized Tomography (CT) Technologist later this year.  Extra duties involve the hospital Radiation Dosimetry Badge Program, medical research, the hospital Safety In-service Program and Infection Control Program for Medical Imaging, and teaching the principles of radiation safety.  Longtime member of the Emergency Preparedness Committee.  Additionally, I serve on the hospital “Emergency Response Team” (ERT), which is comprised of both a Weapons of Mass Destruction Decontamination Team and a light Urban Search and Rescue Team.  In addition, I also operate the hospital’s Amateur Radio during drills and operations.  I am Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS) trained.  I was the Hospital “Employee of the Month” for July 2014. 

Have been through “Medical Management of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive Events” numerous times and have been through the County EMS Agency “WMD Mass Casualty Decontamination Hospital Provider Course” three times, the last time being March of 2013. I am scheduled to go through the course again on 8 AUG 17.   Attended “Preparing for a Radiological or Nuclear Event in Los Angeles” seminar and taught a class to the hospital team on the same topic.

     I am a “Los Angeles County Public Health Emergency Volunteer”.  Last training was 23 JAN 15, with training on Vector Control and a Point of Dispersing (PODs) exercise. The 2014 education was on Emergent Diseases (MERS), Climate Change and a PODS Exercise.

     Currently a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s “Community Emergency Response Team” (CERT) and have taken the full course eight times.  I am a CERT Level III (EMT, 16 hour HAZMAT Operations Certificate, and Red Cross Disaster Classes) and a member of the City of Los Angeles CERT program.  In late 2009, I became certified, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff, as a CERT instructor.  My last CERT Class was 7-8 JUNE 2014, put on by L.A. County Fire at Los Alamitos JFTB.  I currently train with Tri-City CERT.

     Presently I am an American Heart First Aid/CPR Instructor at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital.  Just completed the 2015 Instructor updates.  I was Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified, but not current.

     I am also a General Class Amateur Radio Operator with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s “Disaster Communications Service” (DCS).  Previously assigned to the Los Angeles County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), I am currently assigned to detached duty from Norwalk Station to Rancho Los Amigos Hospital.  I am the only trained radio operator employed at Rancho.  Actually, I am the only DCS Radio Operator assigned to the County Department of Health Services, and, as such, I participate in drills, exercises, and emergency communications.  Last Statewide Drill was 15 NOV 2012 and I operated and oversaw all communications, serving as the net control operator for the in-hospital radio operations, conducting satellite phone communications, and participating in the amateur radio Disaster Amateur Radio Network (DARN) utilized by the L.A. County EMS Agency.  On 30 APR 11, I was pinned by the Los Angeles County Sheriff at the Academy for volunteer service of over 2,000 hours.

     As of January 2014, I became a member of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Malibu Mountain Search and Rescue Team, which is, incidentally, the busiest team in the state.  I am one of the few who is not a Reserve Deputy.  Although I train and patrol alongside the Deputies, I am assigned to the Command Post as part of the Incident Support Team.  My duties involve communications, computer mapping, coordination, and liaison duties. Currently, my SAR activities are “on hold,” though I did participate as a ground searcher for a missing person in MAY 2017.

     I was also active, until recently, with “Disaster Medical Assistance Team CA-9” (DMAT CA-9), where I served as a GS-9 Telecommunications Specialist, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Level “A” HAZMAT Specialist from August 2001 to October 2012.   Last training deployment was to Anniston, Alabama in April 2010.  It was a Field Training Exercise for an earthquake scenario on the New Madrid fault.

     I am a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 12-04, Marina Del Rey.  I am Coast Guard Boat Crew and Communications qualified and possess a basic security clearance.  Post 9-11, I earned the Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation Ribbon for participation in Noble Eagle harbor security patrols, a Coast Guard Presidential Citation (Hurricane Katrina), and a Department of Transportation 9-11 Ribbon.

     I am a non-active member of the American Red Cross, with training in Mass Care and Disaster Shelter Management.  Hurricane Katrina volunteer.

     I am motivated to study and train on my own.  In 2007, I spent about 6 months as a volunteer firefighter and completed a college course in “Wild Land Firefighting”.  Took Medical Corp’s “Medical Response in Hostile Environments Course” in Ohio 30 APR-2MAY 2010.   In recent years, I completed both Basic and Advanced Survival and Evasion Training with the United States Rescue Special Operations Group in Missouri, an 8 hour “Wildland Fire Medical Support” class with DMAT CA-9, Urban Escape and Evasion with On-Point Tactical (April 2012), “Emergency Preparation for Nuclear or Radiological Event and Clinical Application Seminar (21 Jan 10) and, “Medical Preparedness and Response to Bombing Incidents” course (12&13 AUG 10).   Until it ended two years ago, I attended SAR City (Search and Rescue City) in Barstow, CA in October, an annual event.   Awarded certificates in Mantracking, Forensic Science, Field, EMT Field Medical Skills, and ATV.  Have certificates for a number of “Earth Skills” classes in Wilderness Skills, Plant Uses, and Basic and Advanced Tracking. Took the LASD Traffic Control Class (28 JAN 12).  Completed the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Structural Collapse Awareness Training (17 DEC 12).

Back in the early 1980s (1980-83) I served as a Sergeant on the Kern County Sheriff’s Desert Search and Rescue Unit (Volunteer) at both the Mojave and Boron Sheriff’s Stations.

I was (program defunded)  a uniformed Park Service “Naturalist,”(Volunteer) with both the National Park Service and the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and received a good deal of training on outdoor subjects, as well as leading hikes and patrolling the backcountry trails.  I was trained and certified in “Swift Water Rescue and Low Angle Rope Rescue” by them on the Colorado River 22-25 APRIL 2014.  I have received several awards for my service.

     I have completed over 40 FEMA Courses and received their “Certificate of Achievement” in 2006.  I have been an Emergency Medical Technician since 1981, did 30 hours of “Wilderness First Aid” in May 2011, and completed “Combat Lifesaver” training in October 2010 and September 2012.  Passed the  FEMA IS-75, and FEMA IS-809 Courses in DEC 2012.  Past member of the “Mountain Rescue Association.”  Passed the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) (unofficial) certification course in Dec 2012 as well.  On July 17, 2013, I went through the Sheriff’s “Active Shooter In A Healthcare Setting” training.

     On my own, I have taken several tactical classes with OnPoint Tactical, most recently “Urban Escape and Evasion,(twice)” “Scout Basic,” Scout Advanced,” Recon Scout” (twice), “Jaeger Scout” and ” Off Grid Medical Care”  held in Utah.

Basically, I train all the time on something!

In December 2016, I was licensed as a Pharmacy Technician.  I completed EMT renewal at UCLA in FEB 2017.  Completed ESCI course in CPR/First Aid/AED and Tactical Medicine in April 2017.  Current in Wilderness First Aid(Sierra Club) as of MAY 2017.

My Name is Tony Burke. I have been teaching and training security personnel for over 22 years teaching and training security personnel for over 22 years. I am with the California state the California State military reserves military police unit. I am a wilderness survival instructor. I teach run, hind, fight and stop the bleed courses for Los Angeles city. I am proficient in firearms and urban tactical training.