MacDill prepared for the worst-case scenario

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The epigram "hope for the best, prepare for the worst" is precisely why MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, orchestrated two major accident response exercises (MARE), Feb. 8 and Feb. 9, 2016.    

The 6th Air Mobility Wing (AMW) simulated an aircraft crash and an active-shooter scenario to test how effectively MacDill's first responders would react to an incident if it were to occur during the 2016 Tampa Bay Airfest.

"In order to host an event such as Airfest, the wing needs to have assurance that our personnel know how to respond to those types of situations, especially with such a large scale of people being involved," said Lt. Col. Brad Mate, an inspector general with the 6th AMW.

When a crisis takes place, panic and chaos follow. Effective teamwork and communication are crucial during a catastrophic event.

Once each scenario was set into action, security forces Airmen moved spectators away in order to secure the scene, firefighters battled the aircraft fire and medical Airmen provided triage to the wounded. Simultaneously, command and control members set up the emergency operations center, crisis action team and unit control centers.

The second day gave security forces an opportunity to identify and apprehend an active-shooter, as well as seek out and prevent a suicide bomber. This exercise was geared toward security forces, explosive ordinance disposal and local law enforcement teaming together to control the situation; however, firefighters and medical personnel responded accordingly.

To make the scenarios as realistic as possible, an F-4 Phantom was brought in to simulate the crashed aircraft, and volunteers gathered on the flightline as spectators. Other individuals used moulage to create fake injuries, which included severe burns, bullet wounds, and head injuries.

"The multifaceted exercises required synchronization between off base agencies and the respective units," said Master Sgt. Shane Dhayer, a wing inspection team member assigned to the 6th AMW. "From the wing commander down to the first responders combating the chaos, each plays a vital role in making sure the safety and security of an incident will be expertly handled."

The MARE's evaluated emergency response plans, solidified tactics, techniques and procedures, and improved overall capabilities for emergency response.

"It is vital that we evaluate our process' we have established to ensure it isn't broken and if we run into any hitches, they are address and corrected," said Dhayer. 

More specifically, the first responders were evaluated during the response, withdrawal and recovery phases of the exercise to determine their ability to assess and treat injuries, as well as contain and protect the scene of the incident.

"The past two days were highly successful," stated Mate. "It gave the wing confidence that our first responders can effectively do their jobs during a high stress scenario. As with any exercise it highlighted some areas we need to improve, which is the point of conducting the exercise."