Yuhei Tajima, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, speaks to local Okinawan emergency responders during a bilateral aircraft egress training event Oct. 29, 2015, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. During the training, Tajima explained how the 18th CES would response in the event of an aircraft mishap and how developing the relationship between members from the 18th CES and local Okinawan emergency responders is vital to ensuring that both the base and local community are safe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen)
Story by Airman 1st Class Lynette Rolen
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan - Members from Kadena and local Okinawa emergency agencies participated in an aircraft egress training event Oct. 29 at Kadena Air Base.
The event was held to let both U.S. forces and Okinawan emergency forces work together and know what to do in the event of an aircraft mishap and learn how to coordinate responses between one another.
The training focused on the safe removal of personnel from a simulated aircraft mishap involving a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion.
The training emphasized building the relationships between both U.S. and Okinawan forces to improve bilateral communication and teamwork, said Rochelle Blount, Fleet Activities Okinawa emergency management officer.
This relationship is vital to ensuring smooth and swift responses if an aircraft mishap were to occur. Established communication between both forces is crucial to accomplishing this.
“In a worst case scenario, if an aircraft mishap does occur, then U.S. forces and our Japanese partners are able to respond to that mishap or that possible accident,” said U.S. Army Col. Brady Crosier, Okinawa Area Field Office chief and manager of the training. “Then we can efficiently or effectively rescue any personnel.”
The Okinawan responders were given an aircraft familiarization briefing before the training began. It allowed locals to see the different functions of the P-3 and how the responders could potentially help injured personnel and contain a fire in the event of a crash.
In addition to the brief, they were also provided a walk-through of the aircraft and shown several different emergency operations that can be performed during an emergency on a P-3, as well as being shown the different support vehicles that could provide aid to a scene and the tools that are used to contain a situation.
“We want to ensure that local response agencies are able to cope with an aircraft disaster,” said Master Sgt. Christopher Gerwick, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief. “If the P-3 were to crash off-base, they’d be able to respond effectively and all the hazards would be known so it wouldn’t be as much of a surprise.”
The tour also provided the Japanese responders an opportunity to interact with U.S. Navy personnel from the 46th Patrol Squadron and personnel from the 18th CES. Establishing relationships between each emergency response agency increases the effectiveness of teamwork in the event of an aircraft mishap.
“It’s a huge team effort, because you do respond together,” said Blount. “Not one agency responds alone. When we respond, we respond together as a team effort.”
Yutaka Higa, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, operates a pierce tool during a bilateral aircraft egress training event Oct. 29, 2015, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Local Okinawan emergency responders were shown the different vehicles and tools that are used by U.S. Air Force emergency personnel during the event of an aircraft mishap. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen)
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Peter Haas, 46th Patrol Squadron acoustic operator, and Mitsuo Yamaguchi, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron fire training section assistant, discuss the different parts of a P-3 aircraft during a bilateral aircraft egress training event Oct. 29, 2015, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. This training allowed Air Force, Navy, and Okinawan emergency response forces to work together and coordinate responses. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen)
Hideo Shinya, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, demonstrates the power of a fire hose during a bilateral aircraft egress training event Oct. 29, 2015, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Members from the 18th CES showed local Okinawan emergency responders the vehicles they could possibly see respond to an aircraft mishap and the tools that could be used to contain an incident if it were to happen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Craig Hassinger, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron crew chief, performs an egress training demonstration with a local Okinawan firefighter as part of the P-3 bilateral training Oct. 29, 2015, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The purpose of this training was to show local emergency responders what they can do in the event of an aircraft mishap off-base. The egress involved demonstrating the rescue of any injured flight personnel from an aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen)
U.S. Army Col. Brady Crosier, Okinawa Area Field Office chief, briefs local Okinawan emergency responders about the importance of the P-3 bilateral training Oct. 29, 2015, at Camp Shields, Japan. Crosier emphasized that this training helps enhance mutual understanding and trust while encouraging the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen)
