442d Fighter Wing emergency responders combine forces

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Emily F. Alley
  • 442d Fighter Wing
WHITEMAN AFB, Mo. --  Emergency responders from the 442d Fighter Wing, from Whiteman AFB, tried something new on Sunday, Sept. 21.

Five groups came together- security forces, firefighters, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, emergency management and bioenvironmental engineering- to engage in a large scale exercise that began with a simulated 911 call and shootout that morning.

Senior Airman Christopher Winslow, from the 442 FW Security Forces Squadron, played the role of a third country national.

"Hail ISIS!" he yelled- an improvised line- as he exchanged simulated gunfire against the uniformed security forces members to start the exercise. His character died in the shootout, and security forces began to sweep the nearby building. They found an explosive booby trap and a simulated ricin lab. On the wall of the lab was the flag of ISIS and photos of the top targets- the commander and vice commander of the 442 FW. The Airmen reported the lab and booby trap and dozens of other players began to arrive on scene. Within three minutes, the area was cordoned off and secured.

The exercise was almost exclusively comprised of Reservists from the 442 FW, and one Airman from the 509th Bomb Wing who asked to participate out of curiosity. 442 FW Commander, Col. Hubie Hegtvedt, recognized the generosity of the bomb wing in providing equipment, such as fire trucks, for the exercise and the element of authenticity it brought to the scenario.

"It was impressive," said Hegtvedt, "to roll into the mix of vehicles and equipment and personnel that filled the parking lot. I'm thankful that we have such a great relationship with our host wing and they were willing to help us out."

Among the equipment was an EOD robot named "Dora the Explorer" who helped disable the booby trap guarding the ricin lab.

The trap, set off by a trip wire near the door of the lab, was designed and built by Master Sgt. Josh Baker, from the fighter wing's EOD section, who drew on years of experience with explosive ordnance. Baker was impressed by the scope of the exercise and the opportunity to give younger newer members a chance to understand their roles.

"In the past, we've done exercises individually [as EOD or security forces, for example] and simulated what other emergency responders would do based on our notions of their jobs. This combined exercise speaks to what they would actually do," said Baker.

Every emergency response section tasked newer, less experienced Airmen as players in the exercise.

"We wanted younger troops with no experience," said Master Sgt. James Dorl, 442 FW security forces squad leader and wing inspection team member. "We took our aces out and didn't stack the deck."

The scenario was conceptualized by the emergency management office as a voluntary initiative intended to test a variety of capabilities that spanned several sections. It was an opportunity to build experience in fields, including those not often tested, in an exceptionally realistic way.

"Senior Master Sgt. Mo Findley [the architect of the exercise] did a phenomenal job.  Our Wing Inspection Team members have complicated roles in the wing.  We ask them to be exceptional at what they do, dutifully train their subordinates and then we need them to step back and build exercises that require them to objectively self-assess their own unit's performance.  Mo's creativity and understanding of various tasks impressed outside observers.  We expect to see this event repeated by other units in Air Force Reserve Command in the future." said Lt. Col. Todd Riddle, the 442d Fighter Wing Inspector General.

Baker also recognized the challenge, particularly for his own young EOD airman who recently returned from technical school and was tasked as a player in the exercise. Senior Airman Cameron Rupert controlled the robot that disabled Baker's trap.

"He's nervous because there are a lot of high-ranking eyes on him," said Baker, as the exercise began. "But who's to say in the real world you wouldn't experience the same thing?"

One of those observers was his commander, and target number one on the wall of the ricin lab, Col. Hegtvedt.

"It's good for Airmen to see actual, tangible results from their work. This was a chance to let our younger folks see the big picture," Hegtvedt said. "It's nuanced- but you have to give them a safe place to make a mistake."

Overall, the Wing Inspection Team members were pleased with how well the players worked through the scenario. The players all tended to be less experienced, and tended to work slower than their counterparts who have been in the job longer.  The exercise finished within the time limit of nine hours- with a simulated handing-off of the crime scene to the FBI.

Although the exercise was internal, and largely experimental, the wing invited representatives from Air Force Reserve Command to evaluate the process and make recommendations. In a way, it was a test-run for the future.  The exercise was a benchmark not only for the 442 FW but for Air Force Reserve Command.