Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport on Fort Leonard Wood and Springfield-Branson National Airport are now officially partners in emergency readiness. The two parties signed a formalized agreement earlier this year.
"The Memorandum of Understanding came about because of the continuous use of the airfield and then the activation of the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade on quick-response missions. This gave them the ability to deploy much quicker," said Darlene Battle, Installation Transportation Officer.
The MOU between the two parties explains the relationship between the post and airport during emergencies or drills where the military would need to use the airport's facilities.
In the event of a natural disaster, the military is charged with flying relief supplies to the state.
"In the years since 2001, emergency planning has taken on greater importance at every level of government: local, state, and national. One of the biggest challenges in emergency planning is making sure that everyone -- meaning all the responding agencies -- knows what to expect from each other," said Kent Boyd, spokesman for Springfield-Branson National Airport.
Some of the support elements highlighted in the agreement include ensuring fuel is available, setting guidelines so airport staff and security are aware of the weapons and ammunition that may accompany military personnel on their flights and providing space for a maximum of two aircraft on the tarmac.
"Since the Army and the Springfield airport have already talked about the possibility of such a scenario, and formalized it with the MOU, both parties know what to expect. We already know each other's needs," Boyd said.
Fort Leonard Wood and Springfield-Branson Airport will review the written document on an annual basis to ensure all aspects of emergency planning remain up to date.
"Bottom line, we don't have to start the conversation from scratch. In a very real sense, the MOU is a form of advance planning," Boyd said of being prepared for an emergency situation.
In addition to the terms outlined in the agreement, the MOU also provides secondary benefits to military personnel.
"Utilizing Springfield significantly decreases the amount of travel time for our military when moving by air," Battle said. "This means more Family time prior to departure and quicker return times."
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