Luke officer participates in Balad MARE, tests emergency response

  • Published
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A Luke Air Force Base Airman participated in a major accident response exercise June 5 while deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. 

"Exercises like this allow us an opportunity for all of our JBB medical assets to come together to participate jointly in a very realistic scenario," said Col. Peter Brewer, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group deputy commander, deployed from Luke's 56th Medical Group. 

The MARE involved organizations and members from across the installation. 

"A MARE is an opportunity for the 332nd AEW disaster response force to conduct response actions, evaluate emergency response plans, solidify tactics, techniques and procedures, and improve overall capabilities for emergency response," said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Onken, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management flight chief. 

Overall, a MARE can simulate a number of events like an aircraft crash, a hazardous spill, a terrorist attack or an explosion. 

"A MARE provides the installation commander a means to plan and conduct realistic, integrated exercises and training for all installation personnel," said Sergeant Onken, a native of Pocahontas, Iowa, who is deployed from Peterson AFB, Colo. 

For this MARE, the wing responded to a simulated C-130 crash just outside the installation. The simulated crash had 69 casualties, which tested both emergency responders and the 332nd EMG. 

"Our objective in the MARE was to execute our Joint Mass Casualty Plan while including all JBB medical assets," Colonel Brewer said. "Specifically, we wanted to evaluate triage procedures, patient tracking and accountability, transportation, and medical command and control." 

Overall, Airmen stepped up to the MARE challenge. 

"The 332nd AEW performed well in most areas," Sergeant Onken said. "The recall of the Joint Emergency Operations Center was completed within 30 minutes. The two leadership functions worked very well together; however, they did identify some future communication issues that will need to be resolved. 
"Training and education are the keys to ensuring the installation is prepared for any type of major accident response in the future," he concluded. "With the constant changeover of personnel here, we must continue to access our capabilities and work together as a total joint force." 

Courtesy of AF News and 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs