Team evaluates Misawa's emergency response

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stefanie Torres
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Fire, security forces and medical personnel were put to the test when the All Hazards Response Training Team arrived at Misawa Air Base May 5.

AHRT is an education, training and exercise program that provides the installation commander an opportunity to assess base emergency capabilities.

A major field exercise involving a chemical attack via a car bomb scenario, and a series of tabletop and functional exercises were created in a three-day time span to train first responders and Emergency Evaluation Team members in emergency situations.

EET added role players in the chemical attack to test the CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear and high-yield explosives) response of first responders.

A big challenge for EET is distinguishing the simulation versus reality of the scenario, explained Maj. Wesley Hales, 35th Fighter Wing Chief of wing inspections.

"They work to drive realism while controlling the footprint," he said, speaking of the EET. "Things have to be as realistic as possible while keeping the exercise on the desired scale."

After the first responders came to the scene, the explosive ordinance disposal team arrived to safe the contaminated area with their robot, allowing the HAZMAT team to collect samples and determine what kind of chemical threat existed.

Role players were present at the medical treatment facility with signs of chemical reactions and the hospital set up their in-place patient decontamination function.

"The EETs did a fantastic job," said Adam Christmann, team lead for the AHRT. "There was strong teamwork at the incident command post and everyone did very well integrating the drills."

The scene is different from base war fighter exercises held quarterly, explained Mr. Christmann.

"Most Air Force bases encounter disasters that are not related to the warfighter," he said. "This scenario is far more probable for what could happen at Air Force bases."

A lesser scenario brought to the table involved a pandemic influenza that infected the base. The AHRT discussed issues that might arise from being overseas at a location where resources are not readily available.

Time and distance to resources pose as major challenges for overseas bases such as Misawa, explained Mr. Christmann.

"Here, you are a long way from resources," he said. "You would have to know what and when to ask for something."

The team visits each base every two to three years to determine how well the base responds. They also understand the difficulties of working overseas and work to help the base to sustain function.
"Our first responders made a very strong showing," said Major Hales. "Here at Misawa, we are prepared for an Emergency Management Exercise type scenario."
Misawa was the 26th Air Force installation to receive the program in fiscal year '09 and was the sixth in the Pacific Air Force.