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MARE preps base for Open House

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. David Carbajal
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Members of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and emergency responders from the base's surrounding communities came together March 31 to practice their response capabilities during a simulated aircraft accident here.

The major aircraft response exercise was part of preparations for the installation's open house, set for May 12 and 13.

"Our goal is to prepare the base for the open house by exercising the various functions that would respond in the event of an aircraft accident," said Bob Scherer, 87th Air Base Wing Plans and Programs exercise evaluations chief.

In this exercise, the base simulated two aircraft colliding mid-air during the open house and subsequently crashing at two sites -- on and off-base.

Elements from the 87th Air Base Wing, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Marine Aircraft Group 49 and numerous mission partners participated in this large-scale exercise.

About 100 volunteers participated as role players who aided the evaluation team in assessing the first responders and base's key functional units, said Scherer. Many of those role players were prepped with moulage to provide a more realistic scenario for the first responders.

Scherer sees progression in the base's overall performance.

"We're getting better each time, but it will continue to be a challenge," said Scherer.

Scherer plans to incorporate another MARE into the exercise planning cycle.

Even though evaluating our units was a big part of the MARE, the base can equally benefit in other ways, said Scherer.

"One of the biggest objectives to this exercise is having everyone work together," said Scherer. "We've found one of the most challenging aspects of first response is communication. By practicing these simulations, we learn to overcome that."

Community emergency responders also participated in the exercise.

"In the event of a real-world aircraft accident, we would lean on our off-base partners to help us," said Adam Buehler, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management flight.

Buehler echoed the importance of working together in this type of scenario.

"When you do work so well together, tasks are seamlessly accomplished," said Buehler. "We function much better when we work together."

Beyond having the ability to work together, Buehler stressed the importance of continuing to build rapport with the base's off-base counterparts.

"It's imperative that we maintain a good working relationship with our civilian community partners," said Buehler. "Having these exercises and getting that face-to-face interaction with them only makes our partnership stronger."

The base expects as many as 200,000 people to visit the installation during this year's open house.