Exercise tests Team Fairchild’s respond capability

A 92nd Civil Engineering Squadron firefighter carries away Senior Airman Ryan Berends, a simulated victim of an explosive device attack during an exercise at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Nov. 7, 2012. During the exercise, Airmen learned to better integrate emergency response training and assessments for exercise evaluation teams. Berends is a diagnostic imaging technician from the 92nd Medical Support Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor Curry)

Exercise tests Team Fairchild’s respond capability

Members of the 92nd Medical Group prepare an in-place patient decontamination tent during a simulated chemical-warfare attack, Nov. 7, 2012. During the exercise, Airmen learned to better integrate emergency response training and assessments for exercise evaluation teams. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor Curry)

Exercise tests Team Fairchild’s respond capability

A member of the 92nd Civil Engineering Squadron fire department checks on Senior Airman Zachary Mosher, a simulated victim of an explosive device attack during an exercise at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Nov. 7, 2012. Fairchild was one of three bases used to confirm the Response Training and Assessment Program training and exercise program to meet the need for Air Force. Mosher is a knowledge operations journeyman from the 92nd Mission Support Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor Curry)

Exercise tests Team Fairchild’s respond capability

Members of the 92nd Medical Group check for signs of breathing on a simulated victim of chemical warfare during an exercise at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Nov. 7, 2012. During the exercise, Airmen learned to better integrate emergency response training and assessments for exercise evaluation teams. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor Curry)

Exercise tests Team Fairchild's respond capability

Published Nov. 21, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Earlandez Young
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Fairchild Air Force Base hosted evaluation teams during the Response Training and Assessment Program visit Nov. 7-9, 2012.

The program replaces the contract-dependent All Hazards Response Training program with an in-sourced solution. RTAP allows installations to better integrate emergency response training and assessments for exercise evaluation teams and other communities.

Fairchild is one of three bases used to confirm the RTAP training and exercise program to meet the need for the Air Force. Travis AFB, Calif., and Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., have already taken part in RTAP exercises.

"Fairchild leadership volunteered to participate in the RTAP exercise in order to increase the tools at our disposal during a crisis," said Senior Master Sgt. Anna Collins, 92nd Air Refueling Wing superintendent of plans and inspections. "Headquarters Air Mobility Command selected Fairchild because Team Fairchild is well-known throughout the Command for its superior teamwork and ability to accomplish the mission."

Some of the functional communities impacted include: the fire department, security forces, public health, explosive ordnance disposal, bioenvironmental engineering, search and recovery, public health and other medical elements.

"Being a part of this exercise helped me see the importance of not only my job, but also the importance of responders, as we all had to work together to identify, contain and transport resources while still keeping everyone safe," said Senior Airman Devon De Castrique. "It was a lot of fun to see how every little piece linked together and how communication and collaboration is crucial in any emergency.

"It was also a great opportunity for the bioenvironmental shop to really put our skills to the test as we ruled out which hazard was present -- radiation, chemical or biological -- with the detection capability of our equipment," said the 92nd Aerospace Medical Squadron bioenvironmental engineering journeyman.

The first base, Travis, received an exercise scenario and was expected to execute using existing training, standards and procedures. This was passively looked at by the RTAP team to verify and validate the tactical drills.

The second and third bases, D-M and Fairchild, were tasked to execute exercise scenarios utilizing the RTAP tools. The RTAP team evaluated and validated the effectiveness of the tools.

All installations will receive credit towards annual exercise requirements based on the type of scenario developed and executed.

"Our first responders showed they are truly first-class Airmen and we can count on them to respond to any situation we need," said Collins. "Although the six exercises were graded by Fairchild's own Exercise Evaluation Team, we had representatives from Headquarters Air Force, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and several Air Force direct reporting units evaluating and validating our evaluation team."

After validation of the exercise events, the RTAP tools will be distributed Air Force wide.