Neutralizing the threat

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jose L. Hernandez
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  An antiterrorism and major accident response exercise designed to test the readiness and effectiveness of emergency response units at Air Force Global Strike Command's Minot AFB was conducted here by exercise planners and evaluators from both the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing Sept. 22 and 23.

"Generally these types of exercises assess and validate the response capabilities of the emergency response teams on base." said P.J. Pallotta, the 5th BW antiterrorism officer.

"We want to make sure we have the capability and confidence to respond to a terrorist attack and the use of a weapon of mass destruction against this installation." Mr. Pallotta added.

The initial exercise response to the threat of a possible terrorist attack commenced with the increase in the force protection condition on base, Mr. Pallotta explained. Intelligence from the threat working group kept units informed on the increased possibility of a terrorist attack threat and they were unaware of the emplacement of a possible WMD throughout the exercise.

The base's defense posture, or FPCON levels, were bolstered and security procedures were heightened to meet the growing threat said Mr. Pallotta. Even Dakota Elementary School practiced the lockdown procedures in response to the various measures implemented by the crisis action team comprised of commanders and leaders from across the 5th BW.

Eventually, when news of a suspicious package found on base circulated throughout the various alert teams, the response phase was activated.

Mr. Pallotta said emergency response teams which included the base emergency management, security forces personnel, medical experts, the fire department and unit control centers, were among the pool of threat response teams needed to generate the best course of action necessary for neutralizing the threat.

Master Sgt. Loretta B. Fisher, 5th Medical Operations Squadron bioenvironmental engineer flight chief and participant in the AT/MARE, was very impressed to see how smooth communication between members of the various units went.

"All the teams were spot on in their capabilities of performing their job and utilizing all necessary equipment to get the task done," Sergeant Fisher said. "It's important to test the efficiency of how response teams work with one another and analyze how they formulate plans."

The exercise brought together people from various career fields and with them their own unique experiences, said 1st Lt. Darin J. Oakes, 5th MDOS bioenvironmental engineer.

Lieutenant Oakes said, "Overall, exercises such as this one ensure we are ready to attend to the health and safety of the population."