From the right, Airman Enmanuel Crespo, Airman 1st Class Patrick Kelly, Senior Airman Tommy Ngo and Airman 1st Class Oscar Canteros, 374th Security Forces Squadron patrolmen, prepare to confront a simulated hostile gunman during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. The exercise enabled joint responders to coordinate proper response procedures in a simulated environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
Airman 1st Class Oscar Canteros, right, and Senior Airman Tommy Ngo, both patrolmen from the 374th Security Forces Squadron, arrive on scene and assess the situation during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. During the rodeo, Airmen from the 374 SFS, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department and 374th Medical Group refreshed their life-saving skills and strengthened communications between each organization. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
Patrolmen from the 374th Security Forces Squadron transport a simulated injured Airman during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. The exercise enabled joint responders to coordinate proper response procedures in a simulated environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
Airman 1st Class Oscar Canteros, right, communicates with patrolmen by radio while Senior Airman Tommy Ngo, 374th SFS patrolman, watches an unfolding training scenario during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. Both are patrolmen with the 374th Security Forces Squadron. The exercise enabled joint responders to coordinate proper response procedures in a simulated environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
Lt. Col. David Hardy, right, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron chief of aerospace medicine, gives information to Master Sgt. Dion Bullock, left, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief, during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. Airmen from the 374 SFS, 374th CES fire department and 374th Medical Group refreshed their life-saving skills and strengthened communications between each organization. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
Master Sgt. Anisha Hall, left, 374th Airlift Wing plans and exercises wing inspector, evaluates firefighters during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. The rodeo was an all day event that entailed emergency scenarios involving buildings and personnel around base and is meant to better train first responders assigned to various squadrons. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
Tech. Sgt. Angela Quinones, center, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron independent duty medical technician, checks a simulated victim while Airman 1st Class Faria Hernandez, right, 374th AMDS aerospace medical technician, takes notes during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. Airmen from the 374 SFS, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department and 374th Medical Group refreshed their life-saving skills and strengthened communications between each organization. (U.S. Air Force photo/0Osakabe Yasuo)
A Yokota firefighter walks out of a building after completing a training scenario during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. Airmen trained on their capability to respond to a duress situation in the event that a threat arises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
Senior Airman Tommy Ngo, left, 374th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, escorts simulated hostile individuals during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. During the rodeo, Airmen from the 374 SFS, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department and 374th Medical Group refreshed their life-saving skills and strengthened communications between each organization. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes)
Airman 1st Class Enmanuel Crespo, left, 374th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, rolls a simulated suspicious person over so a fellow patrolman can search them during the First Responders Rodeo at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2012. Airmen trained on their capability to respond to a duress situation in the event that a threat arises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
by Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
6/29/2012 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- When people's lives are on the line in an emergency situation, first responders could be the difference between life and death. When someone else's life is in their hands, their skills must be on point.
On June 26, Yokota hosted a first responders rodeo. The rodeo included emergency response training scenarios involving buildings and personnel around base and was meant to increase knowledge and skill set for first responders assigned to various squadrons here.
Unlike other exercises, this rodeo was meant to evaluate the responder's process of dealing with a situation, not just the result.
"This was held at a low-speed, low-threat tempo to ensure personnel could train and be trained during the scenarios," said Master Sgt. Michael Deiderich, 374th Airlift Wing Installation Exercise and Inspections superintendent. "All of the units involved came together and coordinated the planning for the exercise to ensure we provided quality training in a realistic way."
Deiderich went on to explain that one of the main reasons for the exercise's success was due to good communication, saying "all functions rallied together and coordinated extremely well."
"Communication went very well because everyone is becoming more aware of each other's role in emergency situations," said Tech. Sgt. Alberto Verastegui, Exercise Evaluation Team chief for the 374th Security Forces Squadron. "If every section takes care of their responsibilies like in the rodeo, we're golden."
According to Verastegui, the 374 SFS had another strength as well.
"Our ability to transition between each emergency scenario was spot on," he said. "Training in the past year has helped us greatly in certifying our newly assigned personnel at Yokota on how to react in emergency situations."
Airman 1st Class Justin Lozano, a medical technician assigned to the 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, had the opportunity to experience the rodeo first-hand.
"It was a good experience for me because I was able to see what a medical technician does on-scene of an emergency," he said. "Scenarios can easily become chaotic, but these went very well."
For every unit involved, their experience in the rodeo not only helped them for this exercise, but for future exercises down the road.
"This exercise was a resounding success," said Deiderich. "We have a great platform for our next exercise."
