Command post keeps the information flowing

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen 1st Class Richard Kelly, Stephanie Tyrolt and Senior Airman Timothy Mercado, emergency action controllers, 35th Fighter Wing Command Post, answer phones and communicate on the public address system Feb. 3 during an exercise. The command post serves as the command and control headquarters during exercises and real-world situations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

Command post keeps the information flowing

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airman Marquis Williams, engineering assistant, 35th Fighter Wing Command Post, marks the location of a simulated attack Feb. 3 during exercise Beverly Sunrise 10-01. The Emergency Operations Center provides incident response capabilities for the commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

Command post keeps information flowing

Published Feb. 3, 2010
By 2nd Lt. Jeff M. Nagan
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The alarm screams, and people scramble. A loud voice booms from the speakers overhead, "Exercise, exercise, exercise. Alarm blue. MOPP 4!" People aren't thinking about where the order originates; what's important to them is what is said. They quickly don their gas masks and put on their gloves just as they would in a real situation.

Behind that unknown voice, is a nerve center, buzzing with action. The command post serves as the command and control headquarters 24-hours a day during exercises and real-world situations. When stood up, the command post houses the emergency operations center, which provides incident, response capabilities for the commander. Behind both the command post and EOC is a critcal web of communication.

"Communication is essential - It is the way we keep the command informed and inform the base," said Capt. Justin Settles, 35th Fighter Wing Command Post chief. "Mostly what we do when we exercise is exercise communication."

In addition to relying on the chain of command, command post personnel inform the base populous through the public address system, commonly referred to as the "giant voice." Additionally, the team of less than a dozen members updates the commander's access channel when there is a change in alarm conditions or other potential risks or threats.

"We need to know how to communicate with the base," said Airman 1st Class Stephanie Tyrolt, emergency actions controller, 35th FW Command Post. "We are the focal point for the command. "

Command post and EOC personnel continually train for a variety of potential emergencies, ranging from natural disasters to contingency operations, added Airman Tyrolt, a native of Fruita, Co. From exercise training to formal tests, command post personnel must be prepared for just about anything.
"Our training and proficiency has to be up to par," added Airman Tyrolt. "We are here for any emergency situation."