Base defense, emergency response tested at Bagram Airfield

By Vanessa Villarreal (USFOR-A)April 10, 2015

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BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, April 10, 2015 -- Base defense and emergency response systems were tested here today in a base-wide force protection exercise.

Different scenarios were exercised at various locations with all personnel -- civilian, contractor, and military -- responding in accordance with Bagram Airfield (BAF) base defense standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The morning began with an "exercise, exercise, exercise" announcement over the Wireless Audo Visual Emergency (WAVE) system with scenarios commencing immediately after.

"All Soldiers, contractors and DoD civilians -- they do exactly what they're told when the big voice comes across," Sgt. Maj. Christopher Gilpin, U.S. Forces Afghanistan -- Support, Senior Enlisted Leader, said during an active-shooter exercise. "If it says 'shelter in place' then they shelter in place. Accountability is important as we're protecting or securing the compound just in case there's an active shooter event. We need to maintain security so we can consistently and methodically clear out BAF."

According to Task Force Solid Commander Lt. Col. Zachary Miller, behind-the-scenes preparation began weeks ago.

"This will be one of the largest exercises ever executed on BAF, aimed at testing our ability to react to multiple, complex attacks occurring throughout the base," he said. "We'll test all of our emergency response personnel, our quick reaction forces, and our headquarters that command and control emergencies on the base."

Gilpin also said that this practice rehearsal ensures that our SOPs work and, if needed, we'll refine and make changes. Then it's determined where we can improve or what we need to sustain.

"We try to do these exercises at least once a quarter and not the same scenarios," he said. "We do different places and different types of scenarios so we continue to rehearse and improve on the last exercise and build on that exercise so we get better and better -- to a higher level of proficiency."

Col. Douglas Crissman, U.S. Forces Afghanistan Deputy, Deputy Commander -- Support, said the exercise was a success. Next, the team will assess all of the scenarios.

"Overall, it was a good exercise because when you have an event where there are multiple scenarios and multiple actions, it can be tricky," Crissman said. "We were able to accomplish this exercise as an organized unit, mitigate the enemy, and treat casualties. Thanks to everyone at BAF, this was a successful exercise."

Related Links:

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More photos from the exercise on Flickr