Contingency Response Exercise – focus on readiness

Published Feb. 23, 2024
By Tech. Sgt. Seth Stang
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Türkiye --

Emergency response personnel practiced establishing an Initial Response Force bed-down site and contamination control stations as part of a contingency exercise here, Feb. 13.

The event was designed to test 39th Air Base Wing emergency response capabilities and provide Airmen with hands-on training.

"In Emergency Management scenarios, everyone has to be a multi-capable Airman,” said Col. Jason F. Rossi, 39th Mission Support Group commander and initial response force commander. “We have more than 30 Air Force Specialty Codes out here on site."

Two members of the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management support team simulate decontamination procedures on an Airman sitting down on the ground. — Contingency Response Exercise – focus on readiness

Members of the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management support team simulate decontamination procedures during a contingency exercise at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Feb. 13, 2024. The team practiced using the ADM - 300, which can be outfitted with probes to detect Alpha and Beta radiation as well as Gamma and X-rays. The event was designed to exercise 39 Air Base Wing emergency response capabilities and provide Airmen with hands-on training. Routine training exercises optimize overall readiness in response to a chemical, biological, or radiological incident. The mission-focused training also allowed engineers, medical, emergency management, explosive ordnance disposal, bioenvironmental, communications, and several other disciplines to rehearse their capabilities both logistically and operationally. (U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sgt. Seth Stang)

(from left) Col. Jason Rossi, 39th Mission Support Group commander, Col. Kevin Lord, 39th Air Base Wing commander and Master Sgt. David Rodriguez, 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Initial Response Force Manager, listen to a briefing from Maj. Ryan Hoff, 39th CES commander, detailing the setup of a command-and-control area. There is a tent in the background. — Contingency Response Exercise – focus on readiness

(from left) Col. Jason Rossi, 39th Mission Support Group commander, Col. Kevin Lord, 39th Air Base Wing commander and Master Sgt. David Rodriguez, 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Initial Response Force Manager, listen to a briefing from Maj. Ryan Hoff, 39th CES commander, detailing the setup of a command-and-control area during a contingency exercise at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Feb. 13, 2024. The event was designed to exercise 39 Air Base Wing emergency response capabilities and provide Airmen with hands-on training. Routine training exercises optimize overall readiness in response to a chemical, biological, or radiological incident. The mission-focused training also allowed engineers, medical, emergency management, explosive ordnance disposal, bioenvironmental, communications, and several other disciplines to rehearse their capabilities both logistically and operationally. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Kaitlin Cashin)

Two Airmen are wearing protective equipment are simulating decontaminating an Airman wearing a gas mask using sprayer tools in a field. — Contingency Response Exercise – focus on readiness

Staff Sgt. Asia Andrews-Orange, left, and Senior Airman Aisha Glass members of the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management support team, simulate decontamination procedures on Senior Airman Jonathan Swartz 39th Maintenance Squadron munitions stockpile crew chief during a contingency exercise at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Feb. 13, 2024. The team practiced using the ADM - 300, which can be outfitted with probes to detect Alpha and Beta radiation as well as Gamma and X-rays. The event was designed to exercise 39 Air Base Wing emergency response capabilities and provide Airmen with hands-on training. Routine training exercises optimize overall readiness in response to a chemical, biological, or radiological incident. The mission-focused training also allowed engineers, medical, emergency management, explosive ordnance disposal, bioenvironmental, communications, and several other disciplines to rehearse their capabilities both logistically and operationally. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Seth Stang)

Participants from civil engineering, medical, emergency management, explosive ordinance disposal, bioenvironmental, and communications units practiced the logistical and operational hurdles they would encounter during a real-world contingency or emergent support scenario. Across the Air Force routine training exercises are regularly held to optimize overall readiness in response to chemical, biological, or radiological incidents.

“This exercise was designed to train Airmen within a U.S. and Host Nation unified command construct in order to bolster our combined capability to respond to a contingency,” said Master Sgt. David Rodriguez, 39th Civil Engineer Squadron initial response force manager.

Over the course of the exercise, Airmen learned how to bed-down a command-and-control site, conduct asset assessment procedures, and practice decontamination operations, four hours after the notification of a simulated aircraft crash.

Turkish forces from undisclosed units also demonstrated aerial insertions of fire teams and rapid aeromedical evacuation operations.

“This exercise showcased the spectacular agility of our host nation to maneuver forces to provide security and evacuation. It also emboldened our Airmen to learn new skills and crafts in order to become truly multi-capable,” said Rodriguez. “It was a great success that proved we are ready and able to tackle any challenge together.”

These exercises validate the readiness of NATO forces to continue safety and security operations even after a catastrophic emergency.

"We have the greatest Air Force because we don't just train and practice for the good days, we train and practice for the worst-case scenarios also," said Rossi.

Different equipment and a pair of boots are pre-staged on the ground at a training site during a contingency exercise. — Contingency Response Exercise – focus on readiness

Equipment is pre-staged at a training site during a contingency exercise at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Feb. 13, 2024. The event was designed to exercise 39 Air Base Wing emergency response capabilities and provide Airmen with hands-on training. Routine training exercises optimize overall readiness in response to a chemical, biological, or radiological incident. The mission-focused training also allowed engineers, medical, emergency management, explosive ordnance disposal, bioenvironmental, communications, and several other disciplines to rehearse their capabilities both logistically and operationally. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Seth Stang)

Six members of the 39th Medical Group are gathered in a circle around a table in a field conducting equipment inventories and discuss their training scenarios during a contingency exercise. — Contingency Response Exercise – focus on readiness

Members of the 39th Medical Group conduct equipment inventories and discuss their training scenarios during a contingency exercise at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Feb. 13, 2024. The event was designed to exercise 39 Air Base Wing emergency response capabilities and provide Airmen with hands-on training. Routine training exercises optimize overall readiness in response to a chemical, biological, or radiological incident. The mission-focused training also allowed engineers, medical, emergency management, explosive ordnance disposal, bioenvironmental, communications, and several other disciplines to rehearse their capabilities both logistically and operationally. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Seth Stang)

Two Airmen wearing yellow protective gear use tools to simulate decontamination procedures. — Contingency Response Exercise – focus on readiness

Staff Sgt. Caleb Young, left, and Senior Airman Kye Henry, 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management support team members, simulate decontamination procedures during a contingency exercise at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Feb. 13, 2024. Their team practiced using the ADM - 300, which can be outfitted with probes to detect Alpha and Beta radiation as well as Gamma and X-rays. The event was designed to exercise 39 Air Base Wing emergency response capabilities and provide Airmen with hands-on training. Routine training exercises optimize overall readiness in response to a chemical, biological, or radiological incident. The mission-focused training also allowed engineers, medical, emergency management, explosive ordnance disposal, bioenvironmental, communications, and several other disciplines to rehearse their capabilities both logistically and operationally. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Seth Stang)