JBER troops undertake emergency management exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman Ty-Rico Lea
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson service members and Department of Defense employees conducted an emergency management exercise June 20 on the joint base. The exercise was meant to prepare for potential incidents including aircraft malfunctions, injured personnel or terrorist attacks.

The exercise focused on the simulated crash of a C-130 Hercules, stricken by engine failure en route from Yokota Air Base, Japan, to JBER, which reportedly held 36 passengers on board, five of whom were pronounced dead upon impact of the aircraft. After pilots of the aircraft realized they were experiencing engine failure, they attempted to perform an emergency landing.

"Initially when the C-130 'crashed,' the Base Defense Operations Center sent word to all on-duty security forces members to respond to the crash site," said Air Force Master Sgt. Chad Carver, 673d Security Forces Squadron flight chief. "Several of our patrolmen arrived first and began performing [first aid] to the victims of the crash."

Carver also said the first-responder patrolmen made sure to remove any individuals from the aircraft's wreckage by placing them approximately 200 feet away from the incident.

"After individuals were safely relocated, a cordon was placed around the aircraft," Carver said. "Afterwards we stood by and awaited the arrival of members from the hospital, fire department, crash recovery, explosive ordnance disposal and bioenvironmental."

Other service members from organizations, such as the 673d Civil Engineer Squadron fire department, were present to extinguish all fires preventing any further damage that may be done to the aircraft and individuals onboard. Also service members from the 673d Medical Group arrived not only to triage and provide medical assistance, but also to transport victims to hospitals across Alaska to be treated for their specific injuries.

"Once we confirmed that the scene is in the capable hands of the firefighters and medical personnel, we pulled back and performed our primary duty of securing the area and making sure the scene remained safe, allowing Office of Special Investigations personnel to conduct an investigation," Carver said.

The exercise spanned the majority of the day.

After the EME officially ended, Air Force Capt. Michael Twining, 673d SFS operations officer, had positive words to say about the exercise.

"Anytime that we can train and take the opportunity to work together with other entities together on JBER really helps solidify that relationship and lets everyone know exactly what we do in an emergency," Twining said. "It also helps us prepare for any possible real-world crisis."