Offutt holds annual major accident response exercise

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Carly A. Costello
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  In preparation for the 2014 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show, Offutt Air Force Base teamed up with several off-base agencies for a Major Accident Response Exercise June 28.

The MARE is an annual exercise used to prepare and train units on base as well as the surrounding community on how to respond to a major incident if it was to happen during the air show.

This year, the base simulated an airplane crash during a mock air show that killed the pilot and one spectator as well as injuring more than 180 people.

"The scenario is developed by the planning committee and is designed based upon training objectives submitted by agency leads," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Aaron Weed, 55th Wing Inspector General inspection planner. "It is built to fully test integrated emergency response capabilities and interoperability between military and civilian agencies."

Exercise planning for the MARE began in March and over 120 days, the wing inspection team led numerous meetings to include a table-top exercise, according to Weed.

"We prepared heavily for this exercise, but the skills we gained are skills we hope to never have to use in real life," said U.S. Air Force Col. Gregory Guillot, 55th Wing commander. "Due to the nature of the training, all participants took the exercise very seriously, and the teamwork with our community partners was vital to the success of the exercise."

Approximately 75 agencies were represented during exercise planning to include on- and off-base organizations such as 14 local hospitals and the Army National Guard. More than 200 55th Medical Group volunteers took part in the exercise, 300 volunteers role played victims, and hundreds of other volunteers from outside organizations to include several key partners like the Red Cross, Salvation Army and United Way were also involved.

"The MARE is an excellent example of how Team Offutt works closely with the local community to exercise and train for large scale incidents," Guillot said. "The teamwork we saw throughout this exercise was impressive and we cannot thank our partners who participated in this event enough for their support."

During this exercise, the Offutt Fire Department, 55th Security Forces members and the 55th Medical Group worked hand-in-hand with several off-base first responders, according to Richard Esparza, 55th MDG emergency manager.

"It is important that we conduct these types of exercises and include our military and civilian partners because should something like this scenario happen, it is going to take all-hands approach to be able respond to the situation," Esparza said. "There are capabilities that our civilian partners bring to the response that we don't possess on base, while the military brings a different type of response and manpower. "

The MARE provides necessary training for on and off base organizations, according the Weed, and validates that "Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha Metropolitan Medical Response System and the Tri-county emergency response professionals are fully prepared for a mass casualty event."