Photo By Lindsey Iniguez | A flight helmet lays on the ground at the site of a simulated aircraft crash during a...... read more read more
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412th Test Wing emergency first responders and base support agencies are always ready for a test pilot’s worst day on the job. The appropriate readiness skills were sharpened during a Major Accident Response Exercise on Edwards Air Force Base, California, Feb. 12.
The base conducts a variety of exercises with a wide range of scenarios each year to help response teams hone their response and recovery skills should an actual real-world emergency occur. Exercises inform efficiency and performance through validating Mission Essential Tasks, confirming or denying vulnerabilities, policy conformity and compliance, and heightening 412th Test Wing readiness posture.
“The MARE was an avenue for the 412th Test Wing to practice individual and collective training to build upon the fundamentals of readiness,” said Laura Shattuck, 412th Test Wing Mission Assurance chief. “Often the focus of the exercise is geared toward our emergency responders, command and control, and Security Forces, but it also integrates the general base populace and various supporting agencies on and off the installation.”
The 412th Test Wing Plans and Operations (XP) facilitated the exercise. Within the scenario, an F-22 Raptor and C-12 Huron were involved in a mid-air collision over a part of the base. First responders had to quickly respond to two scenes: a crash site strewn with debris and the second location being a parachute located at another part of the base.
Air Force operational readiness exercises are critical in evaluating and improving the readiness of Airmen and units to respond to emergencies and external threats. MAREs also improve teamwork as they provide opportunities to test and improve communication and teamwork.
“We are already performing our wartime mission; we must implement a readiness ethos to protect and preserve our personnel and capabilities,” said Brig. Gen. Douglas Wickert, 412th Test Wing commander. “The MARE provided this opportunity, to heighten our people’s understanding of the current EAFB vulnerabilities and threats while hardening the mission and improve our readiness posture. It strengthens the security and resilience of the 412th Test Wing and our ability to preserve life.”
Some of the goals of exercises are to train Airmen – military, civilian and contract employees, assess unit readiness, measure communication and coordination between units and agencies and prepare for a wide variety of contingencies. MAREs help identify weaknesses and strengths in response to an accident.
“It builds upon 10 of the 17 Mission Assurance Related Programs (MARPA). The MARE was an avenue to witness Mission Assurance in action as a process to protect or ensure the continued function and resilience of capabilities and assets by refining, integrating, and synchronizing security, protection, and risk-management programs that directly relate to MARE execution,” Shattuck explained.
Areas of improvement are noted both by 412th Test Wing Inspector General’s Office and Wing XP. Once reports are conducted, suggestions on Team Edwards’ performance during the MARE are routed to the appropriate agencies where changes to improve procedures, if necessary, can be made.
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.25.2025 13:48 |
| Story ID: | 492812 |
| Location: | EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 45 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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