Airmen test emergency response at Joint Base Balad

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) --  Airmen in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here participated in a major accident response exercise June 5 at Joint Base Balad.

"A MARE is an opportunity for the 332nd AEW disaster response force to conduct response actions, evaluate emergency response plans, solidify tactics, techniques and procedures, and improve overall capabilities for emergency response," said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Onken, the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management Flight chief.

Overall, a MARE can simulate a number of events like an aircraft crash, a hazardous spill, a terrorist attack or an explosion.

"A MARE provides the installation commander a means to plan and conduct realistic, integrated exercises and training for all installation personnel," said Sergeant Onken, a native of Pocahontas, Iowa, who is deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

For this MARE, the wing responded to a simulated C-130 Hercules crash just outside the installation. The simulated crash had 69 casualties, which tested both emergency responders and the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group staff.

"Our objective in the MARE was to execute our joint mass casualty plan while including all Joint Base Balad medical assets," said Col. Peter Brewer, the 332nd EMDG deputy commander. "Specifically, we wanted to evaluate triage procedures, patient tracking and accountability, transportation, and medical command and control."

"Exercises like this allow us an opportunity for all of our Joint Base Balad medical assets to come together to participate jointly in a very realistic scenario," said the colonel who's deployed from Luke AFB, Ariz.

"The 332nd AEW performed well in most areas," Sergeant Onken said. "The recall of the joint emergency operations center was completed within 30 minutes. The two leadership functions worked very well together; however, they did identify some future communication issues that will need to be resolved."

"Training and education are the keys to ensuring the installation is prepared for any type of major accident response in the future," he said. "With the constant changeover of personnel here, we must continue to access our capabilities and work together as a total joint force."