Arizona base helps validate RTAP

by Senior Airman Brittany Dowdle
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/24/2012 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.  -- Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., hosted an evaluation team during the Response Training and Assessment Program exercise Oct. 17-19, 2012.

Davis-Monthan is one of three installations needed to validate the RTAP training and exercise program to meet the requirements for Headquarters Air Force. Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., are the other two bases that will take part in the RTAP exercise.

The program is designed to provide installations a tool to optimize cross-functional emergency responses. This program replaces the contract-dependent All Hazards Response Training program with an in-sourced solution. RTAP provides installations with a capability for improving integrated installation emergency response training and assessments for installation Exercise Evaluation Teams and 19 functional communities.

"This exercise gives D-M the unique experience of hosting approximately 25 HAF-sourced contractor personnel and major command subject matter experts for several functional communities," said Master Sgt. Adam Hernandez, 355th Fighter Wing inspector general superintendent. "The RTAP visit allows D-M to showcase the capabilities of our Emergency Management programs and the dedicated personnel that support these programs."

Some of the functional communities impacted are command and control, fire and emergency services, explosive ordinance disposal, security forces, public health emergency officer, bioenvironmental engineering, clinical, public health, search and recovery and mortuary affairs.

"Our IG, Emergency Management, and Bioenvironmental functions are consistently strong performers when conducting response exercises," Hernandez said. "D-M was chosen to facilitate the RTAP exercise based on experience."

RTAP is a validation exercise that has three steps. The first installation, Travis, received an exercise scenario and was expected to execute the situation using existing training, standards and procedures. This was passively observed by the RTAP team to verify and validate the tactical drills.

The second and third installations, D-M and Fairchild, are tasked to develop and execute an exercise scenario utilizing the RTAP tools. The RTAP team will evaluate and validate the effectiveness of the tools.

All installations will receive credit towards annual exercise requirements based on the type of scenario they develop and execute.

"D-M provides a great testing ground for this new RTAP capability, and will provide Air Combat Command a good starting point for further implementation," Hernandez said.

After validation through these exercise events, the RTAP tools will be distributed Air Force-wide.