Airmen prepare for Air Expo

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristen Rohrer
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Travis Airmen held Major Accident Response Exercise 08-05 Aug. 5 in preparation for the Travis Air Expo Aug. 30 and 31.

The MARE was held to provide an evaluation of the base's emergency response agencies, and other units responsible for recovery actions, after the immediate danger/disaster has occurred. 

"Since we are soon having an Air Expo with flying acts, we are required by Air Force Instruction to conduct an emergency response exercise to prepare and test our responders and command and control capabilities," said Dan Johnson, 60th Air Mobility Wing Plans' chief of exercise evaluation.

"In addition, each of these exercises gives our personnel excellent 'hands-on' training with checklists and equipment," Mr. Johnson added. "This exercise allows us to validate processes and ensure the base is ready for the worst-case scenario. In addition, it allowed us to communicate and play along-side our local off-base responders."

Exercise coordinators used various scenarios to give particpiants that "hands-on training." 

"For this particular exercise, we used a child abduction, an anti-military demonstration and the crash of a C-17 Globemaster III during its demonstration flight in the show. The simulated crash caused large numbers of casualties and damages to other aircraft, facilities and resources," Mr. Johnson said.

Though the entire base participated in the event, the primary responders to this event included security forces, fire, medical, Emergency Operations Center, group and unit control centers that responded immediately to the situation. The remainder of the base participated based upon the actual scenarios given to them. For example, The Emergency Family Assistance Control Center with Airman and Family Readiness Center personnel, chaplains and mental health were activated. Maintenance personnel conducted an emergency tow of a nearby aircraft and demonstrated the procedures for recovery and removal of the damaged C-17. In addition, with a potential HAZMAT situation, both bioenvironmental and civil engineering environmental functions responded to minimize exposure and contamination, explained Mr. Johnson. Due to the simulated plume of hazardous materials, several facilities also conducted shelter-in-place procedures.

The importance of working with off-base personnel was evident throughout the exercise. Solano County Emergency Management Services provided life-flight air and ground ambulances that created an added opportunity to interact, communicate and respond as a single group dedicated to saving lives. Vaca-Valley and North-Bay Hospitals also worked with Travis by receiving and providing care for patients.

In addition to the MARE, Travis must conduct a wide-variety of exercises each year with an emergency response exercise each quarter. "With the wing Operational Readiness Inspection approaching in October 2009, there will be a larger than normal number of exercises in our preparation up to the inspections," Mr. Johnson said.
The MARE exercise allowed Travis to prepare for the air show by practicing and reviewing policies and procedures to help ensure personnel are ready to respond if called upon to save lives, property and the environment.

"Overall it was a very successful exercise and provided an excellent opportunity to have responders and other agencies prepared for the unthinkable," said Mr. Johnson.
The MARE also provided an opportunity to utilize valuable tools from the 60th Medical Group as well.

"For the first time, we were able to use the 60th MDG adult and child simulator training mannequins which gave our medical personnel excellent on-scene diagnostic training. These mannequins provide programmable vital signs and symptoms as well as react to the care provided," he said.

"It goes without saying these exercise don't just happen on their own. Unit and group Exercise Evaluation Team personnel designed and evaluated the scenarios and many volunteers and tasked personnel worked as role players adding a superb sense of realism and cooperation," Mr. Johnson added. "We just couldn't do these valuable training events without the unit support we have throughout Travis and the local community."

Team Travis will host the Air Expo 2008 open house Aug. 30 and 31. The theme for this patriotic show featuring current airpower is "Above All ... Celebrating Air Power Over the Golden West." For a recording of updated information, call (707) 424-0139 or go to www.travisairshow.com.