US Air Force First Responders Exercise Readiness, Interoperability

Emergency personnel from the U.S. Air Force 380th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) executed a large, first-responder exercise at Al Dhafra Air Base (ADAB), United Arab Emirates.

A variety of agencies including medics, firefighters andsecurity-forces defenders participated in the exercise to test their readiness,knowledge of emergency procedures and interagency cooperation amongst thewing’s first responders.

“Today was all about ensuring our medics knew where they fitin with the larger response system,” said Col. James Chambers, 380th AEWMedical Group commander. “Our medics were literally working hand-in-hand withsecurity forces and the fire department EMTs to find, triage patients andlitter-carry them wherever needed.”

Additionally, the exercise helped foster partnership with the United Arab Emirates’ Air Force Joint Aviation Command (UAEAF JAC) to practice a medical evacuation scenario via helicopter. Working alongside the UAEAF JAC tested a critical relationship to ensure unified operations in a real-world scenario.

“Our teams demonstrated creativity and flexibility inmeeting both scripted challenges as well as real-world ones,” said Chambers.“Exercising what’s being planned simultaneously builds confidence and exposeschallenges – both are needed and both occurred today.”

Agencies were able to game plan response procedures,evaluate their effectiveness, overcome potential roadblocks and ultimatelyprepare for real-world scenarios to save lives. Teams of first responders werespecifically able to simulate triage processes for moulage patients, on-scenemedical care, as well as medical evacuation capabilities.

“The exercise let people know how to operate in a controlledchaos environment,” said Tech. Sgt. William Coyle, 380th Expeditionary CivilEngineer Squadron firefighter. “The goal is to control the chaos and movethrough it. You will always get the best results when you do that.”

As an Air Force Reservist, Coyle is also a firefighter inhis civilian duties in the U.S., and said he was able to implement training fromthe outside into the exercise as well.

“When you work as a first responder you don’t have theluxury of accepting mediocrity,” Coyle said. “You have to stay proficient onall your skill sets, because what we do has a direct impact on whether peoplewill live or die.”

The focus of any exercise is to safely respond to theemergency and mitigate impact to the wing and personnel. While there willalways be lessons learned along the way, “practice like you play” is even morerelevant in exercise scenarios.

“Lessons learned from today’s exercise will inform medicaltraining in future rotations as well as shape personnel and materiel requestsfrom U.S. Central Command,” Chambers said. “Today’s exercise will also help usoptimally partner with a future trauma center in UAE to provide the Departmentof Defense not only improved medical care for ADAB, but potentially for theentire CENTCOM area of responsibility.”

The 380th AEW was able to holistically strengthen the base’s readiness capability and first responder interoperability with host-nation partners.

Source: US Air Force