NAHA MILITARY PORT, OKINAWA, Japan -- U.S. Forces Japan and local first responders executed Off-Base Aircraft Mishap Exercise 2014 April 24 at the Naha Military Port.
During the exercise, local and U.S. military police, fire fighters and emergency response personnel executed a series of planned training events in response to the simulated crash of a military aircraft in an urban area.
“This is a great opportunity for the U.S. military and local first responders (on Okinawa) to work together, so that we are prepared to handle an emergency,” said U.S. Army Col. David W. Detata, chief of the Okinawa Area Field Office, U.S. Forces Japan. “We learn a great deal by conducting exercises like this, and working alongside one another.”
The exercise ensures that both Japan and U.S. first responders establish important communication links for the coordination of firefighting and rescue operations, and secure and control the mishap site, according to Hitoshi Tasaki, director of Crisis Management in Okinawa, Okinawa Prefectural Police.
“(U.S. forces and local first responders) have different activities and systems and use different equipment,” said Tasaki. “It is important to understand the differences and build mutual cooperation with each other.”
The local units involved in the exercise included the Naha Police Station, Naha City Fire Department, Okinawa Prefectural Police, and the Japanese Coast Guard. They worked alongside U.S. military counterparts including U.S. Army military police, Marine Corps Installations Pacific Fire and Emergency Services, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, and the Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler Provost Marshal’s Office.
The OBAMEX-14 scenario simulated a downed U.S. Marine Corps rotary wing aircraft in Naha City, injuring crew members and bystanders, while also damaging nearby vehicles and trapping passengers. The simulated crash took place within the jurisdiction of Naha City Fire Department and Naha Police Station. First responders needed to control the blazing aircraft, free passengers trapped in vehicles, and provide appropriate medical aid to the injured.
“In any aircraft mishap response, the confusion requires well-rehearsed procedures, a tight notification process, and rapid-fire decision making,” said Capt. Braden T. Trainor, the operations officer for MCB Camp Butler PMO. “This is made exponentially more challenging when the other agencies you’re working with speak a different language. We’ve seen here today (that) we can overcome language barriers and different backgrounds, and effect emergency incident response to a catastrophe.”
As each unit worked alongside their counterparts in the rescue scenario, they gained a stronger sense of cooperation, mutual respect and teamwork, according to Trainor.
“If we want to have a shot at managing a disaster such as this one, where loss of military aircraft is coupled with potential loss of American and Okinawan lives, we need to devote time to communicating with our bilateral partners and rehearse,” said Trainor. “There is no understating the camaraderie and trust (that) weeks of working so closely together with another nation engenders.”
As the event drew to a close, emergency workers with the different units learned that should the need arise, they can count on each other, according to Detata.
“We learn a great deal from exercises like this and working alongside one another,” said Detata. “Ultimately, exercises such as this help to make Okinawa a safe place to live and work. We’re committed to ensuring all emergency personnel are prepared to cooperate and respond to any potential emergency, no matter where it may occur.”