Cannon conducts Mass Casualty Exercise

by Senior Airman Ericka Engblom
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

5/12/2014 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- With a shout the exercise is set in motion: runners take off in all directions, frantic calls are made as the dead, wounded and dying lie scattered in various positions of agony across the pavement. Help soon arrives in the form of a fire truck, its lights flash as medics jump out bearing kits and stretchers. As the hours pass and the chaos is slowly reined in, one thing remains the same - the men and women with clipboards stand off to the side, observing.

Then with another cry, this one of "ENDEX," it is over. The "dead" get to their feet and smile and the "wounded" wipe fake blood from their faces. The Major Accident and Mass Casualty Exercise at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., has been a great success.

On May 6, emergency response agencies at the 27th Special Operations Wing, namely the fire department and members of the 27th Special Operations Medical Group, answered to a simulated incident on the flightline at Cannon.

The incident consisted of a simulated aircraft explosion that rained fiery debris down upon approximately 120 personnel, 70 of whom were severely injured. The remaining 50 scattered in every direction, eventually being corralled by members of the 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron and sent to Hangar 174 for additional care. Meanwhile, the 70 injured personnel were attended to and sent to receive specialized medical treatment depending on the severity of their simulated injuries.

"No one wants to have an accident of this magnitude actually happen," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Douglas, 27 SOW Inspector General NCO in charge of exercises. "However, it always helps to prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

This MARE was designed to enhance Cannon's readiness and safety prior to the air show which is scheduled to take place May 24 and 25. It also tested the reaction time and abilities of Cannon's emergency responders should a real world MARE scenario occur. The exercise accomplished these objectives by condensing what would have been 24 hours' worth of events into a four hour, fast-paced experience.

In addition, the exercise helped reinforce bonds and interoperability with local emergency response personnel.

"This exercise assisted in strengthening interagency cooperation and functionality," said Todd Miller, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron assistant chief of operations. "We want to be equipped in case an event such as this occurs in the future."

When asked how well the exercise helped shape planning for disasters that might occur during the air show, Douglas replied that thanks to the MARE and several other exercises, the base is ready for anything untoward that might happen.

"We did very well during the exercise," said Douglas, "and we feel very confident about handling any situation that might arise."