Team Tyndall's response tested during exercise

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Amanda Ferrell
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Periodic exercises are conducted at Tyndall to ensure Airmen are able to react quickly and effectively to contingencies and emergency situations both on the installation and in the local area.

The most recent exercise, which kicked off Sept. 10 here, tested more than Team Tyndall's reaction time to potential threats and emergencies. The four-day exercise tested overall Airmen vigilance, deployment preparedness and Wing-wide communication skills during a suspected terrorist attack on base.

While exercise scenarios vary from terrorist threats to natural disaster preparedness, the exercise held last week intertwined two separate events simultaneously.

"The initial exercise scenario was a AEF deployment leaving from Tyndall and arriving at a base in Southwest Asia," said Frank LaBroad, 325th Fighter Wing Exercise Evaluation Team chief.

The second and concurrent scenario was an increasing threat of terrorist activity in and around the surrounding area.

"The exercise incorporated deployment operations, which continued on to the cantonment area where ATSO training was evaluated. Concurrently a bio-terror threat to the installation was unfolding." said LaBroad.

Fifty active-duty personnel representing squadrons and career fields from across Tyndall participated in the initial phase of the exercise, which tested Tyndall's ability to mobilize personnel en masse to an overseas location.

Each person selected to participate in the first phase of the exercise processed through a mobility line. The line mimicked the real-world out-processing system, and included an in-depth review of personal documents, medical clearances and training records.

"The success of a deployment operation rests on individual responsibility and preparedness," said LaBroad. "Each individual is responsible for ensuring personal information is kept current in VRED, Unit Deployment Managers are kept in the loop on medical status relating to profiles, and family care plans are functional." Common discrepancies are dog tags, VRED errors, items missing from deployment records and training documents.

In the cantonment area, Airmen set up tents and simulated hardening a facility while subject to enemy attacks chemical and conventional weapons such as missiles and mortars. Knowledge of the Airman's Manual (AFMAN 10-100), A good attitude, and sense of urgency is key during this phase of the exercise.

"The deployment preparedness exercise here was similar to contingency exercises I've participated in while stationed in Korea," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Peterson, 325th Fighter Wing senior emergency actions controller. "We relied on information in the Airman's Manual to dictate our response to events such as chemical attacks and breaches in installation security. The same skills were tested here during the exercise last week, which helped reinforce my understanding of contingency operations."

Sergeant Peterson deployed to Pakistan in 2003, and is now preparing for a second tour of deployment duty. Though the processing line was simulated as part of the exercise, he said it was a great opportunity to review his records and documents, and it helped get him in the deployment mind frame.

"While I'll be deploying as an individual from Tyndall, processing through a mobility line offers a huge advantage," said the sergeant. "Having all base agencies at once in the same location makes the process fast and efficient. It's also nice to have support personnel such as chaplains and medical staff there in case you need extra support before you deploy."

Exercise operations in the cantonment area were followed by a base-wide threat scenario putting security forces, first responders and on-scene commanders to the test.

The scenario simulated a situation where a terrorist organization sent an envelope containing anthrax to the installation, said LaBroad.

Tyndall security forces, fire fighters, bioenvironmental and medical personnel responded to the scene. All agencies swiftly reacted to the situation, and while relying on training expertise and procedures, they were able to successfully respond to an extremely hazardous situation.

"My role in exercise operations on Tyndall is to provide the wing Commander an accurate, unbiased assessment of the Wing's readiness capabilities," said LaBroad. "Findings from local exercises are compiled and analyzed by members the Exercise Evaluation Team, and actions are taken to make Tyndall's response prompt and effective."

Findings from planned exercises note infractions to Air Force policy and procedure, and are addressed post-exercise. Units responsible for certain actions during contingencies are tasked to review procedures to ensure successful execution in the future.

Observations gleaned from local exercises result in recommendations for better, more effective ways to react in emergency situations.

"The objective of all exercises here is to test Team Tyndall's ability to meet then exceed standards during emergency response situations and to ensure our members remain as vigilant, reactionary and prepared as possible," said LaBroad.

Future exercises are planned for Tyndall personnel, and will continue as the 325th Fighter Wing prepares for an upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection.