Phase II assesses Saber readiness

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Spangdahlem Air Base took an initial step to prepare for a NATO Tactical Evaluation scheduled for June 2010 when it conducted a base-wide Phase II exercise Aug. 4-7.

The exercise involved donning chemical gear in mission oriented protective postures, 24-hour operations, simulated conventional and chemical attacks, and exercise scenarios based on real-world possibilities to test Sabers' responses to certain incidents. Each scenario was evaluated by an exercise evaluation team member to track where the base stands in preparation for the tactical evaluation.

At the core of the exercise were the EET members, a team made of "the most experienced people from each functional area who gave their inputs to build the exercise scenarios for the Phase II," said Maj. Sean Cosden, 52nd Fighter Wing deputy chief of wing inspections.

Various scenarios tested all Airmen, first-term Airmen to seasoned experts.

"This is our job - knowing what to do and how to respond when the base is under attack," said Tech. Sgt. Jay Moreau, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management craftsman, who worked as the emergency operations center manager during the exercise and has participated in about 30 exercises throughout his career.

"Essentially everyone's job in the EOC is to recover the base in peace and wartime situations and to make sure everything is happening as it should. The manager is like the herder, making sure people in the EOC are doing what they need to and staying on the right path for a successful outcome," he said.

Some Sabers with extensive exercise experience were tested in exercise roles they had never filled before. One such person was Lt. Col. Kenneth Crane, 52nd Communications Squadron commander, who was the EOC director for the first time.

"I've been in a lot of exercises, but it was my first time in this role," Colonel Crane said. "It was a huge learning opportunity for me. What made it so great was working with different specialties and people, as well as the challenges and opportunities to make decisions quickly.

"You're directing actions and there's no second chance. You make a decision, and it's over until you make the next decision," he said.

Challenges to the EOC included overseeing information provided by exercise injects and responding appropriately to those injects while coordinating responses with each agency that must be involved.

Injects for future Phase II exercises leading up to the NATO Tactical Evaluation will become increasingly harder as Airmen become more aware of their roles and responsibilities. EET members will be focused especially on operational security, communication security and everyone's sense of urgency, Major Cosden noted.

This Phase II is a benchmark for future exercise, so EET members will concentrate on weak areas noted in past exercises and the Aug. 4-7 Phase II, and they will emphasize those areas in future exercises, Maj. Cosden said. Upcoming exercises include one exercise per month starting in January to prepare for U.S. Air Forces in Europe's five-day Phase I and NATO's three- to four-day Phase II evaluation.

"We're all very pleased with where we're at now. We have a lot of work to do with the busy exercise season ahead, but if folks work as hard as they did for this exercise, it will be a piece of cake," Major Cosden said.

Editor's Note: 2nd Lt. Kathleen Polesnak, 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this article.