Naval Air Station Responders Unite During Security Breach Exercise

By Lt. j.g. Tim Mosso, Naval Airs Station Whiting Field Public Affairs

MILTON, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field conducted a test of its physical security and emergency response capabilities during a simulated security breach, March 20.

The drill, which was conducted as a component of the March 19-25, Navywide Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield force protection exercise, was designed to engage and evaluate each of the air station's crisis response professions.

Rudy Mendiola, NAS Whiting Field Training and Exercise coordinator, described the drill as a security response simulation, albeit one focused on those disciplines unique to the air station.

"It's what we call an ECP-entry control point protection. Nationally, everyone is going to simulate an elevated force protection status. [NAS Whiting Field] has coordinated our installation services to focus on exercising their individual, unique capabilities," Mendiola said.

The air station's personnel were confronted with a scenario involving forced entry to base grounds by a suspicious, unauthorized private vehicle. The initial stage of the drill engaged the physical security forces of the base under the aegis of Security Department training officer Rodney Wood.

"We had the primary lead since it was a security breach; we're the first responders, Wood said. "Our role was to detect the breach, neutralize the threat, and secure the scene for the other agencies. Once the physical task of extraction was judged beyond the capabilities of the first responders, because it's an integrated exercise, we handed that task to fire suppression crews and paramedical teams from the Fire Department."

Following a brief pursuit, the "bogie" simulated a desperate evasion maneuver, and base crews were instructed to respond as if the vehicle had been disabled, rendered hazardous, and impervious to safe occupant extraction.

This sequence was designed to test the teams' professional skills as well as their communication procedures. Security established initial on-scene command, and a dynamic, on-the-fly turnover of authority was required in order to ensure no delay in the deployment of fire crews. The interaction of agencies during this process was judged essential to the success of the exercise.

"When security got on the scene today, they saw a vehicle upturned, assessed the situation, realized the extraction and treatment was beyond their immediate capabilities, and they did an on-scene change-of-command with fire [crews]," Wood said.

The arrival of fire crews introduced fire suppression and paramedical capabilities to the on-scene resources, but a new challenge emerged. As firefighters and EMT personnel approached the wreck, unspecified "hazardous material" was declared to be present on the scene.

The additional threat element prompted a temporary withdrawal while suppression crews reviewed the potential hazards. Ultimately, the material was judged to be spilt gasoline, not an improvised explosive, and crews were able to manage the risk while tending to the intruder.

"As far as the planning, conducting the exercise, the crews performed outstanding. All of our objectives on the scene were met; they did everything I was looking for," Fire and EMS training officer Chief Brian Tracey, said. "We build experience on every single drill, regardless of how well or successfully we execute, but they really excelled today. And a big part of this drill was communication with Security, which was great. The transfer went off without a hitch," he added.

Base Public Works Environmental personnel were the last to engage the crash scene. While specialist skills of Security, Fire, and EMT personnel addressed the most exigent threats, the lingering challenge of scattered pollutants required a different approach. Public Works environmental director Mike Pattison illustrated the challenge.

"Environmental would be called in once [the] security and fire [crews] have secured the scene in their respective fashions and released the site to [the] environmental [crew]. We will restore the site from any hazmat spills. Today, we were on site with a dedicated spill responder," Pattison said.

While interdisciplinary responders served as the core of the drill team, they were not alone. In order to make the drill as representative as possible, personnel from unrelated base agencies were on hand to experience the pace, process, and intensity of a crisis situation.

Individuals from Morale, Welfare, and Recreation, Branch Medical Clinic, public affairs, the chaplain's office, and the Fleet and Family Support Center were all present.

"We wanted them to get used to operating in this environment because they [non-responders] are not used to being in these situations. Of course, the interdisciplinary handoff was outstanding because these groups work with each other all the time on simulations, but we wanted to broaden the experience of our other personnel to prepare them," Mendiola said.

The air station conducts a minimum of four significant force protection and crisis response drills per calendar year. Ultimately, the goal of each is to ensure safety for the base's personnel and mission readiness for the core task of training naval aviators. Wood views this objective as the ultimate benefit of diligent preparation.

"Whiting Field is, above all, about its people. We have students, staff, dependents, and retirees who depend on a safe environment. We want people to come aboard and feel safe."