Readiness Flight ready, willing to react to disaster

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Brian Jones
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (USAFENS) --  As evident by recent natural disasters in the United States, preparation is key to averting major loss of life and property. One organization here is charged with ensuring the wing is ready “just in case” a worst-case scenario arises -- the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness Flight.

“We facilitate the base’s disaster response force (for situations like) fires, floods and terrorist attacks,” said Capt. Cliff Reimer, 39th CES readiness flight commander. “You’re not going to notice us until something bad happens -- then we’re all over the place.”

The 10-person readiness team is organized into three elements -- plans and operations, training and logistics -- guaranteeing the flight is ready to meet any scenario head on.

The plans and operations section is centered on the Full Spectrum Threat Response Plan, the bible of wing disaster response actions.

“The FSTR involves everyone on base in one facet or another,” said Captain Reimer.

The goal of the program is to help commanders and first-responders protect people, facilities and resources by minimizing damage and recover base operations after a natural disaster, hostile attack or major accident or incident, said 1st Lt. Maurice Harris, 39th CES Readiness Flight officer in charge of plans and operations.

“In an incident, every unit on base has a specific checklist,” added Lieutenant Maurice Harris. “It’s clear what everyone’s responsibilities are.”

The plans and operations section is in charge of coordinating the wing’s Disaster Control Group, a collection of functional area experts ready to react to any emergent situation. The element also manages the base’s specialty response teams to include shelter management, the readiness support team and decontamination operations.

“We’re the backbone of disaster response from advising the on-scene commander, standing up the DCG, mobilizing the mobile command post and standing up specialty teams as needed,” said Captain Reimer.

The readiness team relies upon specialty equipment in order to accomplish its mission and protect the base. Managing and maintaining this equipment falls to the readiness flight’s logistics section.

“The logistics section equips and deploys the DCG and mobile command post as well as managing all radio, cell phone and vehicle assets for the DCG,” said Captain Reimer. “They also maintain, procure and inspect all of the NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) detective equipment.”

The final section of the readiness flight, and the one most Airmen are familiar with, is the training section. The readiness flight conducts eight NBC defense and two readiness support classes per month in addition to hazardous materials and DCG training.

The flight trains 1,600 personnel per year in NBC defense at Incirlik and an additional 150 to 200 people at the wing’s geographically separated units.

While the readiness flight is probably best known for its training function, team members emphasize that conducting classroom sessions is just a part of their mission.

“Our sole job isn’t just teaching chem warfare,” said Staff Sgt. Rory Cain, 39th CES NCO in charge of logistics. “We’re the Air Force’s version of emergency management and response.”

When a disaster strikes, the response necessary is much more than a 10-person team can handle. For this reason, the readiness flight relies on a trained readiness support team.

“When we are faced with a threat, we can’t support the entire wing without augmentees,” said Senior Airman Jessica King, 39th CES plans and operations journeyman. “We may recall them to help run the mobile command post, help with set up and run operations.”

Currently, the readiness flight has 44 augmentees, who after initial training, report back to the readiness flight for monthly refresher courses.

“It’s not a quick one-day training thing. It takes months (to be qualified),” said Senior Airman Katie Rivera, 39th CES readiness journeyman. “They are very valuable to us and a very important mission capability for the wing.”

If a disaster were to hit Incirlik, the 39th CES readiness flight stands ready to ensure a bad situation doesn’t get worse.

“We have to prepare for the worst case scenario. We’re all about just in case. We train for just in case,” said Airman 1st Class Wesley Lacaze, 39th CES readiness journeyman. “When it goes down, we’ll be there.”