Air Force and Navy train together during fuel spill exercise

  • Published
  • By MCSN Shane Arrington
  • Air Force News Detachment 12
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  With ships coming in and out of the port, there's always the possibility for accidents. A Navy fuel facility at Hachinohe port provides fuel to Misawa Air Base. If an oil spill happens there the response must be quick and effective.

While the facility has its own people trained to respond to such scenario, Misawa Airmen and Sailors from Naval Air Facility Misawa recently trained together to respond to a spill at the port should the base be called upon to assist.

The fuel facility holds this annual exercise to keep responders refreshed on oil cleanup techniques.

According to Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Brian Coughlin it's important for the Navy and Air Force to work together to help protect the environment.

"If there's a major spill out here and we have to respond they (Airmen) would give us a hand," said Chief Coughlin. "That's why they go through this training too."

Working together, all the fake oil in the exercise scenario was contained and cleaned out of the water. Chief Coughlin said the training received during this exercise was beneficial to everyone who participated.

"Hopefully we'll never have to respond to the real thing but if we do we're ready," he said.