post attack reconnaissance

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Michael Rivera, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron water and fuels maintenance technician, and Senior Airman Anthony Santiago, 35th CES pest-management technician, conduct a post-attack reconnaissance sweep at the civil engineer compound Feb. 3 during an operational readiness exercise. During the sweep, the team checked for casualties, unexploded ordinance and facility and equipment damage. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jamal D. Sutter)

post attack reconnaissance

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Michael Rivera, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron water and fuels maintenance technician, inspects M8 chemical agent detection paper at the civil engineer compound Feb. 3 during an operational readiness exercise. Sergeant Rivera is part of a 35th CES security team that conducts post-attack reconnaissance and security sweeps after an attack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jamal D. Sutter)

Special team performs post attack recon

Published Feb. 2, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Immediately following an enemy attack, a specialized team is patrolling the streets, surveying the damage, walking amongst rubble and ash, getting the first eyes on the situation to ensure all is safe before anyone else is put in danger.

The post attack reconnaissance team is one of the first units to leave the safety of a shelter in order to inspect the aftermath of an attack.

After a base is attacked, it is too dangerous for units to return to normal activities until the PAR team has swept the area and declared it safe.

"When the PAR team is released, they start their external-building sweeps," said Capt. Jenifer Bradley, 35th Medical Group emergency operations center representative. "They check for the presence of chemicals and unexploded ordnance that may have been left after an attack."

As the PAR team leaves their shelter, they perform their sweep in two or four man groups depending on the size of the area they need to clear. During their sweep, the PAR teams also look for injured service members, anything suspicious and building damage. They report their findings to their unit control centers for further action.

In order to perform their mission, PAR teams carry a variety of specialized kits. The kits help the team in identifying UXOs and chemical agents, said Master Sgt. William Light, emergency operations center representative, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron. They also employ first aid kits to assist any injured service members they find during their sweeps.

"The PAR team is extremely important, said Sergeant Light. "Without them other people will be put in harm's way."