McConnell exercises readiness for air show

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  In preparation for the Wings Over McConnell Air Show and Open House, McConnell demonstrated its ability to handle emergency situations that could occur in a major accident response exercise August 15, 2012.

The air show will be September 29 and 30 and is free and open to the public.

Due to the large number of people expected to attend, the 22nd Air Refueling Wing used the MARE as an opportunity to practice different emergency contingency plans.

"The exercise simulated some of the various events we could experience during an air show," said Capt. Gabe Arrington, 22nd ARW chief of inspections. "It exposes the air show staff to the different situations we could face in such a diverse climate."

During the exercise, different Airmen from across the base acted as "victims" of a simulated plane crash. The emergency responders, including medical personnel, security forces and firefighters, were tested in their ability to quickly react to such a scenario.

Despite the emergency responders taking a large role in the MARE, agencies from across the base played an equal part.

"The air show staff, which encompasses people from throughout the wing, gets involved in the exercise," said Arrington. "Every single level, from the top to the bottom, helps - from Col. [Ricky] Rupp [22nd ARW commander] running his crisis-action team to maintenance towing the planes."

In addition to the plane scenario, other parts of the MARE included simulated lightning warnings, mass-transit off base and health scares such as food poisoning.

"The exercise itself was a roundabout effort to make sure that all organizations on base were able to react the way they needed to in case of a real-life emergency," said 2nd Lt. Jessica Brown, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs deputy.

Most of the simulations were designed to assess the ability of how base organizations work together to handle crowds of people with short notice similar to what could happen at the air show.

"Communication is vital to accomplishing any kind of mission," said Brown. "We have our daily mission, but in an emergency it shifts to the safety and well-being of the people on base."

Because the air show is a large event for the Wichita area, Team McConnell ensured not only they were prepared, but also that the off-base responders were as well.

"Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services, Via Christi Hospital and the Salvation Army were all playing along in the exercise," said Arrington.

The civilian organizations worked with to their military counterparts to ensure that in the event of an emergency the situation would be handled properly.

"It was really a community-wide exercise preparing for a community-wide event," said Arrington.