Misawa Airmen learn from critical evacuation training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Vann Miller
  • 35th Fighter Wing Pubi Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  As part of the initial response phase, families of a recent exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan played a critical role in a simulated evacuation Monday morning. 

The mass departure processing is an important part of the full deployment and capability of our service, according to one official. 

Representing about 40 family members were eight individuals who processed through the personnel line as part of the noncombatant evacuation operations. 

"The exercise measures how well we can process noncombatants or DoD civilian personnel," said Tech. Sgt. Yvette Hughes-Mayo, Airman and Family Readiness Center superintendent. 

Misawa plays a critical role in the processing of civilian personnel evacuated from various places throughout the Pacific region. 

Two very important signs of success are maintaining 100 percent accountability and keeping the deployment process moving. 

"There are experts from various agencies throughout the wing who are available to answer the questions or concerns of family members being processed," she said. 

The goal is to exercise the way we fight, said the sergeant. 

"We stress that people take these noncombatant evacuations seriously," said Sergeant Hughes-Mayo "We have to exercise as if it were real world." 

It is equally important that families know where their NEO folders are, she said. 

One Airmen assigned to Misawa said that he had been at a base where a voluntary departure order had been issued. 

"When it's time to get on a plane, the last thing my family needed to do was look for routine information we could have gathered in advance," said Master Sgt. Larry Schneck, American Forces Network detachment 12 superintendent, Misawa. 

With the help of the legal and finance services, the chaplain, and the medical group, the simulated family members made it to their next location safely and informed. The coordinators were there to help in every way they could. 

Sergeant Mayo said she stresses the importance of the NEO program and wants to inform Misawa on just how serious the program is. 

"These are our families we are helping, how could you not take that seriously," she said.
The challenges of moving a family in relatively short order added to the conditions of that move may make the situation a stressful one, according to the coordinators. 

The NEO program is an important plan to have in place, according to Sergeant Schneck.
"No matter how well prepared I was, watching my family get on a plane and fly home overwhelmed me. The stress and emotion was easier to handle because most of the paperwork was completed before the departure order."