55th Wing to participate in "PATRIOT 15"

  • Published
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The 55th Wing is scheduled to participate in exercise "PATRIOT 15" on July 23 as part of an interagency field training exercise used to practice domestic operations within the United States.

The annual exercise, sponsored by the National Guard Bureau, is designed to increase understanding and coordination between military organizations and local, state and federal agencies.

This year's "PATRIOT" is scheduled to begin July 21 at Volk Field, Wisconsin and will include multiple training events such as search and rescue operations, mass casualty response and aeromedical evacuation.

As part of the exercise, simulated patients with contagious diseases will be airlifted by a C-17 aircraft from Volk Field, Wisconsin to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska on July 23 where they will be transferred by ambulance to the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Biocontainment Unit.

Offutt's primary role in the exercise will be facilitating a suitable airfield for the safe and secure transfer of patients to UNMC.

"We are very excited to participate in this exercise," said U.S. Air Force Col. Marty Reynolds, 55th Wing commander. "It gives us the opportunity to safely demonstrate and practice our ability to receive patients with highly contagious diseases, and it allows us to work with local response agencies to ensure we collectively eliminate risks to folks in the surrounding communities."

In addition to the exercise, Air Force medical personnel will provide a demonstration of a newly developed Transportation Isolation System to UNMC staff and other members of the medical community. The TIS provides the Department of Defense with the capability to transport multiple patients affected by highly contagious diseases such as Ebola and SARS.

Other local agencies participating in the exercise will include the Omaha Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services.