JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, June 4, 2025 -- Brooke Army Medical Center took first place during the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council’s annual Decontamination Rodeo, May 15, 2025, at the STRAC facility.
The annual DECON Rodeo competition generates various challenges to competitors from DECON teams across Southwest Texas hospitals who face off to earn the title “DECON Rodeo Champion.” Participating teams tested and refined their decontamination and emergency response skills to prepare for potential catastrophic events that would require special expertise in San Antonio and the surrounding communities.
Six teams participated in this year’s competition: Baptist Health System, University Hospital, Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, Methodist Hospital, and two teams from BAMC.
Each team of six included one team captain and five supporting teammates. Teams were evaluated on seven events, and trophies were awarded to the team with the highest overall score.
The team captain for BAMC, U.S. Army Spc. Caleb Adjoodani, a practical nursing specialist, was a participant in last year’s competition, and relied heavily on his experience.
“As captain of the Brooke Army Medical Center rodeo team, my job was to make sure we were all well-trained, had a solid plan, and could execute it effectively,” said Adjoodani. “Honestly, I couldn't have done it without my amazing team, our supportive leadership, and the lessons I've learned from previous years.”
The events teams competed in were:
• Timed ZUMRO Decon shelter set up (Teams demonstrate efficiency and precision in assembling shelters within a specified time limit).
• Timed ZUMRO Decon shelter take down (Teams demonstrate efficiency and precision in disassembling shelters within a specified time limit).
• Personal protective equipment suit-up and run-through: Participants showcased their proficiency in donning PPE.
• Decontamination process: using a mannequin, execute a flawless decontamination process of both an adult and an infant.
• Radiological Detection station: Participants display expertise in operating a radiological detection station, highlighting their capability to detect potential radiological hazards effectively.
• Written evaluation: Assess the teams' knowledge and understanding of decontamination protocols, procedures, and best practices.
• Communications and dexterity station: Participants pair up while wearing PPE and are separated by a partition; one team member verbally describes a building block model, while their partner must recreate the model accurately.
Both BAMC teams had a host of newcomers with little time to train. U.S. Army Spc. Matthew Miller, practical nursing specialist, joined the team at the end of February. He found the DECON shelter to be his toughest task.
“Being new to the team, I did not have much experience with this task,” he explained. “My main goal was to take guidance from my fellow teammates and fill in wherever help was needed.”
U.S. Army Pfc. Alex Grange, a combat medic, is the newest member of the BAMC DECON team and he volunteered to compete in the rodeo.
“I found all of the events equally challenging,” said Grange, who was eager to gain more experience, finding the rodeo was exactly what he needed. “It (DECON Rodeo) showed definite deficiencies and areas for improvement, and I very much look forward to competing again next year as a more seasoned and experienced team member.”
“This experience was a great opportunity to test our teamwork and gauge our current abilities,” said Miller.
Adjoodani stated the past two rodeos he competed in were invaluable. The leadership, input from teammates, and lessons learned from earlier competitions allowed them to fine-tune their training and execute tasks with speed and precision.
STRAC covers 22 counties: a 26,000 square mile region, with 2.8 million people, with 72 facilities, and 120 agencies, making coordinated emergency response training an important part of maintaining its regional trauma and emergency healthcare system.
“We build confidence and skill when we train together regularly, but it's also easy to get comfortable and lose sight of what's truly at stake,” added Adjoodani. “This competition is so important because it creates a fun and interactive way for Brooke Army Medical Center and other hospitals, near and far, to learn from each other,” said Adjoodani.
“Our DECON team is always focused on being ready to respond quickly and accurately, whether it's for a friendly competition and learning opportunity with other hospitals, or, more importantly, when we're protecting our patients and medical staff,” Adjoodani explained.
BAMC Emergency Manager George Wible was very proud of the hard work and effort the teams that entered the competition exhibited.
"This win demonstrates the strength and expertise within the BAMC DECON Team and our organization as a whole,” explained Wible. “I am equally proud of both teams, whose valuable experience and learning throughout the competition contributed to this overall achievement."
“I’m looking forward to seeing how much I will personally improve over the next year and excited to bring back another win for BAMC,” said Miller.
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