Base exercises NEO/Safe Haven operations

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Misawa personnel were given the opportunity to practice noncombatant evacuation operations here during an exercise Feb. 12-14.

As part of the exercise, more than 300 noncombatants were evacuated from Base X to Misawa Air Base, where they received some much needed aid before repatriation to the United States.

"We try to make the exercise as real as possible so that we can be prepared in the event that we are called upon to assist in a real-world event," said Mrs. Marjorie Pichon, Airman and Family Readiness director and NEO commander.

As soon as notification was received to stand up NEO, the Mokuteki Community Center Ballroom transformed into a base of operations, with representatives from the mission support squadron, medical group, transportation station, TRICARE, post office, housing office, finance, legal, American Red Cross, chapel and the Air Force Aid Society.

"They take care of any immediate needs and counsel the evacuees," said Mrs. Pichon.

Volunteers also play an important role as NEO coordinators. These personnel assist with escort duties, child care, perimeter checks and accountability. There should be two volunteer NEO coordinators from each squadron on base.

"The agency reps and NEO coordinators are the ones that make it happen," said Ms. Pichon. "The AFRC is the lead, but it's really a base-wide effort."

While most of the volunteers have not participated in a real-life NEO, they receive training and exercises like this one build upon that training.

"They train us to be empathetic to what the evacuees are going through," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Leliaert, 35th Services Squadron fitness director and NEO lodging representative. "We also watched a training video of actual NEO at Incirlik. It was really helpful - their operations were well organized."

Volunteers play a huge role when it comes to language barriers. The AFRC maintains a database of volunteers who are able to assist with communication in a variety of languages.

"In a NEO, we try to anticipate what different languages we are likely to encounter and we contact volunteers who are fluent," said Mrs. Pichon. In the event a volunteer is not available, the AFRC has pre-typed messages in a number of languages and pictures of different services and facilities so that people can point to what they need.

Mrs. Pichon admits that NEO can be a challenge, but it is an important operation.

"We have to be prepared. It's a challenge - training to make ourselves ready in the event we're needed," she said. "But, we do what we can to make the evacuees comfortable, and we're postured to do a good job."

NEO is typically exercised at Misawa every six months.