Dover prepared for Emergency Management Inspection

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Brian Maguire
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  After months of preparations and major exercises, Team Dover has fine tuned its ability to respond to whatever scenario the inspectors choose for the Emergency Management Inspection during the Unit Compliance Inspection.

The EMI is a one-day exercise that will test Team Dover's response to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or High-Yield Explosive incident on the installation and is currently scheduled for Wednesday.

"The EMI encompasses all aspects of the installation as each unit will have to respond in some fashion," said 1st Lt. David Stringer, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management Flight commander. "From accounting for all personnel to responding to the incident itself, everyone needs to be prepared to respond to an emergency situation."

Exercises such as the Major Accident Response Exercises and EMI provide Team Dover the opportunity to respond to crisis situations that are not part of Dover's daily mission. These exercises are held so base agencies can practice emergency response procedures in the event they someday experience the real thing.

The exercises have also had an impact on base functions, such as when the base increases the Force Protection Condition, closes the main gate or implements the Wing Barrier Plan in response to exercise inputs. The EMI will have similar impacts, so it will be important to plan ahead for appointments or events on or off base Wednesday.

"Personnel should be prepared to potentially encounter significant delays when entering the base or accessing certain facilities and services due to the Emergency Management Inspection," said Maj. Craig Harmon, 436th AW Plans and Programs chief. "The IG let us know that the EMI would occur April 22 in an attempt to mitigate and minimize potential conflicts and reduce the negative impact to both military and civilian personnel in regards to the services the base provides."

Team Dover has held at least one major exercise per month since October to test response procedures and prepare for the EMI. During these exercises, subject matter experts from each squadron served as Exercise Evaluation Team members to evaluate their functional areas and provide observations to improve processes and fine tune responses.

"EET members grade the Wing against the governing standard. Their role as side-line 'players' gives them a larger sight-picture then those Airman engaged in the heat of battle," said Capt. Paul Pawluk, 436th Airlift Wing Plans and Programs deputy chief and EET member. "This allows EET to discern the actual events with a greater sagacity and make the call as they see it. EET members are the referees calling the shots and then reviewing the films with us after the big games."

During the EMI or an actual emergency, EET experts step back into their roles as members of the base's response force, rounding out a highly- qualified team that is ready for any contingency.