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Air Force implements Incident Management System

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MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  As part of the Air Force Incident Management System, McGuire emergency responders will undergo training to bring the base in line with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5, which called for the establishment of a single, comprehensive national system for managing domestic incidents. 

The McGuire emergency response team includes, but is not limited to, the Office of Emergency Management, Security Forces, Fire Department, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, medical and many other organizations and specialized teams both on- and off-base. Once trained, these teams will now speak a standardized language when responding to any incident. 

In 2006, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne issued the memorandum introducing the AFIMS. This action was a direct response to two initiatives created under HSPD-5 -- the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System -- work together to unify emergency management practices at all governmental levels. NRP and NIMS create a comprehensive approach to incident management that enhances the nation's ability to plan for, prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. 

Secretary Wynne's memorandum outlined an all-hazards approach to organization and integration of emergency responders at Air Force installations throughout the world. Implementing AFIMS will involve the revision of Air Force directives to parallel existing NIMS and NRP policies and procedures and will require close coordination and communication within our responder community to ensure support to civil authorities.
 
The Air Force will fully implement AFIMS by December 2009. The initial step is application of the Air Force Emergency Management program by Air Force personnel. This newly designated program replaced the Full Spectrum Threat Response program Jan. 1, 2006; AFEM incorporates and applies key elements of NIMS and NRP across the Air Force. 

The present practice of response agencies conducting individual tasks will change. AFIMS employs a unified response between responders at all levels, both civilian and military, and applies to Air Force installations and responders located within and outside the continental United States. Full implementation and sustainment of AFIMS will require a two-phased approach to streamline present practices.
 
Phase one, scheduled to be completed by Dec. 31, focuses on installation response procedures. It includes the development of policy, guidance, planning templates, inspection and evaluation criteria, and the fielding of training products, including the AFIMS Implementation Key Leaders Guide, scheduled for publication in fall 2006. Phase two, scheduled to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009, includes follow-on actions to improve and sustain training, expand cross-functional coordination and exercises, identify and resolve capability deficiencies, and incorporate the AFIMS capabilities within the Air Force Master Capabilities Library and the Air Force Chief of Staff concepts of operations. 

The complete transition will be lengthy, but will allow the Air Force to better serve its communities worldwide. Each phase will identify the tasks, timelines and responsibilities necessary to work successfully with the other Services in terms of doctrine, organizations, training and exercises, material, leadership and education, personnel and facilities. Throughout the transition, both organizational structure and Air Force-specific terminology will become NIMS compliant. For example, the former installation disaster response force organizational structure will undergo several name and role changes. 

Currently, the disaster response force designates a disaster control group as well as an on-scene commander, usually the installation mission support group commander. An emergency operations center, under the direction of the MSG commander, will replace the disaster control group, along with many of its duties. Many of the disaster control group functions will soon be performed by the AFIMS-designated emergency support organization. 

Personnel in the Office of Emergency Management are the office of primary responsibility for ensuring implementation of both AFIMS and AFI 10-2501, Emergency Management Program Planning and Operations. 

As the installation emergency manager, they will be conducting Emergency Response Operations Training for McGuire personnel on Tuesday through Thursday in the base theater. This training applies to all emergency responders, Unit Control Center personnel, Exercise Evaluation Team members and all specialized team members. 

McGuire training times are as follows: Tuesday at 3 p.m., Wednesday at 9 a.m. and Thursday at 3 p.m. All listed members should have completed the Headquarters Civil Engineer Support Agency Emergency Response Operations CBT before attending one of the theater sessions. This will ensure personnel have an understanding of the AFIMS concept, terminology and will be able to ask questions of your Emergency Management Team. For more information, call 754-6208 or 754-3731. 

--Courtesy of the 305th Civil Engineer Squadron