Nevada Air Guard soars during 'Broken Wing' exercise at Reno-Tahoe International Airport
Submitted by editor on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 6:35pm
Working closely with the neighboring staff at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, dozens of Nevada Air Guard personnel participated in the “Broken Wing” training exercise in Reno on May 29 that included multiple emergency-response organizations. The Nevada Air Guard base is located on 64 acres on the southwest corner of the airport.
The Nevada Air Guard took the opportunity to participate in the crisis exercise to test the base’s response to an emergency incident on or near Reno’s primary airfield and to improve communication and coordination with Reno-Tahoe International Airport emergency responders as well as other northern Nevada first responders.
The exercise began with the 152nd Airlift Wing commander Col. Jeff Burkett receiving notification of a simulated crash scenario. The simulated incident included a 737 aircraft that landed short of the runway south of the airport and had damaged one of the Nevada Air Guard’s C-130 aircraft. Realistic emergency scenarios were the added during the exercise to test the Nevada Air Guard’s response capability to an airport contingency. In the wake of the simulated disaster, a crisis action team and an emergency operations center were quickly established.
“Exercising the airlift wing’s ability to support a catastrophic scenario in our community demonstrates the value of the National Guard and what we bring to the table for Nevada,” Burkett said.
Four 152nd Intelligence Squadron and two 152nd Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen took leave to volunteer during the exercise as victims of the simulated crash.
The Nevada Air National Guard's dining facility was the location for the moulage team to apply simulated injuries and wounds to 25 people acting as victims of a simulated plane crash.
The moulage team, Image Perspectives from Carson City, arrived at 5 a.m. to begin the moulage process. Two hours later, the simulated victims were transported to the notional accident scene where they role-played their injuries for emergency response personnel.
The Nevada Air Guard is set to test other emergency capabilities during its Vigilant Blue Week from June 19-27.
Chief Master Sgt. Linda Simons, the superintendent of the base inspector general team reviewing the exercise, said she was impressed with the Nevada Air Guard’s timely reactions and responses throughout the Broken Wing exercise.
“It was great to see the coordination between the 152nd and civilian agencies including the airport authority and other emergency responders,” Simons said.
