RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Between a nuclear weapons incident, off-base T-6 Texan II crash and biological terrorist attack, 12th Flying Training Wing first responders had their hands full Monday through Wednesday during the wing's Accident Response Exercise Scarlet Hawk 07-03.
This was the wing's first time exercising the new Air Force Incident Management System, in which a commander's senior staff and emergency operations center were used.
In the AFIMS process, the CSS, which replaces the contingency action team, is reduced to the wing commander, group-level commanders and director of staff; where it formerly included staff functionals. The EOC, replaces the disaster control group, which runs much the same way except it no longer deploys to the incident site. Incident responders include the fire department, security forces, medical personnel and a small staff as required by the incident commander.
The first scenario kicked off Monday with a convoy requesting assistance from the base because of a mechanical problem. Shortly after its arrival the truck ignited into flames sending emergency crews into action.
"While a safe haven at Randolph might sound far fetched it's always a possibility and something we need to be prepared to handle," said Maj. Steve Marin, 12th FTW Exercise Evaluation Team chief. "We strive to make all of our exercise scenarios as realistic as possible and once again everyone in the wing came together as professionals and handled the exercise as such."
Monday afternoon through Tuesday, the base continued its exercise with elevated force protection condition measures, in which security personnel conducted 100 percent ID checks for all vehicle passengers, increased random vehicle inspections and tested the recall procedures of the 12th Security Forces Squadron augmentees.
Wednesday morning the fire department participated in an off-base city of Live Oak exercise in which a T-6 Texan II was to have crashed in the local area.
That afternoon, the final scenario was underway as a bomb threat was called into the Taj Mahal. As personnel evacuated the building, a simulated biological improvised explosive device exploded in the parking lot injuring 15 people and killing one. Within minutes, security forces, fire department, medical personnel and other responders were cordoning off the scene, attending to victims and assessing the situation.
"This scenario was a great way to test the wing's response capability to a very serious and realistic threat of today," said Master Sgt. Stacey Stover, 12th FTW EET NCO in charge. "Terrorist attacks like these are becoming an authentic threat here at home, and the use of biological weapons is the reality of the modern world we must consider when preparing a defensive plan. These exercises are a great way to see where we stand as a wing, what our strengths and weaknesses may be, and to see how we can improve with each one."
The next exercise is scheduled for June.