Malmstrom trains for response

Published Oct. 26, 2009
By Senior Airman Dillon White
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Malmstrom Airmen continued Response Task Force training here Oct. 15 and 16 to train for the initial response and recovery effort in the event of an accident involving nuclear material.

The exercise began where the previous two-day, hands-on exercise left off Oct. 2. In the scenario, a vehicle carrying missile components was involved in an accident. First a consequence management team, including first responders from the fire department, security forces and explosive ordnance disposal determined the severity of the accident and secured the area for incoming recovery personnel.

"Overall, I think this was a solid success," said Col. Michael Fortney, 341st Missile Wing commander and RTF initial incident commander. "We weren't perfect, but the team demonstrated we could respond if a weapons accident occurred."

The RTF exercise required more than 150 Malmstrom Airmen to establish a National Defense Area, a command center, several work centers and provide all supporting logistics requirements, such as recovery equipment, lodging for incoming personnel, and power and communication.

"I appreciate all the effort from the team that put this together," Colonel Fortney said. "This capability is indispensible to the base, and ultimately, the nation."

In a real-world accident, the involvement would grow from 150 people to about 2,500, and include incoming personnel from Air Force Space Command, 20th Air Force, the Department of Energy and the FBI, to name a few. The influx of outside agencies would vary depending on the magnitude and nature of the incident.

The RTF exercise implemented organizational structures and procedures that other federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy and Federal Bureau of Investigation, use. This commonality allows a faster and more effective emergency response, said Royce Shipley, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron senior emergency manager.

"The training prepares Malmstrom RTF members to receive national-level resources that will come here to help recovery," he said.

While the organizational structure of the RTF is different from the Air Force's Disaster Control Group, which was the standard accident response plan at Malmstrom for about 30 years, Airmen's hands-on jobs have not changed, Mr. Shipley said.

"Everyone will be doing the same job essentially," he said. "However, some people operate outside their organizational structure."

Operations

Col. Jeffrey Frankhouser, 341st Maintenance Group commander, assumed the role of RTF Operations Section chief during the RTF exercise and controlled the recovery operations performed by the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team and bioenvironmental teams. The colonel also directed members of the legal, public affairs and safety office, who he does not command during day-to-day operations.

"The team is performing brilliantly and exceeding my expectations," he said. "It takes a lot of effort to become knowledgeable about the RTF and execute its duties."

His background in missile maintenance provides him the benefit of technical knowledge of the missile components and leading Airmen in technical tasks, he said. The Colonel said the duties of the Operations chief differs from his role as the 341st MXG commander in that he has a wider variety of Airmen under his command.

"This is a team sport," Colonel Frankhouser said. "I rely on a team of highly skilled professionals and this was a tremendous drill for this organization.

Planning

Colonel Mohammed Khan, 341st Operations Group commander and RTF Plans Section chief, said his staff of 30 "341st Missile Wing Warriors" act as the coordination point for all RTF activities.

"We are the incident commander's right hand," he said. "We coordinate all logistics and operations planning activities to ensure all activities result in a successful response to any incident, both in the near and long term."

Logistics

"The Logistics Section is responsible for building the deployed site, and supporting the RTF and incident commander," said Col. John Patricola, 341st Mission Support Group commander and RTF Logistics Section chief. "Specifically, the Logistics Section is made up of the following areas: logistics readiness and transportation, services, food, and mortuary affairs; the camp manager, civil engineering operations and communications."

Building the Logistics Section from scratch under the guidance of AFSPC Plan 10-1 was a challenge, Colonel Patricola said. The team had to develop processes, procedures and checklists to ensure they provided food, lodging, transportation and communications support not only for emergency responders from Malmstrom, but all incoming personnel.

The section also had to build a forward base that could be deployable anywhere within the Malmstrom missile complex.

"Building the forward base is an extensive task," Colonel Patricola said. "Think about deployed locations you've been at, and imagine building a tent city to support anywhere for a few hundred to 1,500 people. It takes extensive time to plan and actually erect the tents."

The section set-up eight tents during the RTF exercise, and plan to put up more during the next exercise.

Once the tents were up, communications had to be established. The section provided phones and computers to Airmen on scene. They also used communication tools on board the RTF Vehicle provided by AFSPC. These tools included a secure video teleconference room, internet access and satellite communication.

The colonel added that the Logistics Section received help from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron with power production cabling and generators. Assets and Airmen from the MANG supported communications as well.

"We received great support from the 819th and as we move into future exercises, we look forward to strengthening our relationship and working with the Montana Air National Guard as well."

Liaisons

In addition to the Plans and Operations Sections, the Liason and Logistics Sections provide lodging, food and clean clothes for the some 2,300 incoming personnel.

"Our primary responsibility is to act as liaisons for the incoming federal agencies to set up lodging and other needs to facilitate the transition to the RTF," said Col. Zannis Pappas, 490th Missile Squadron commander and senior RTF liaison officer.

The liaison section, comprised of about a dozen senior officers coordinates with the Resource Staging Operations Center -- where personnel arriving on scene in-process.

Once incoming personnel are on-scene, the liaison officers will continue to disseminate information amongst agencies.

The RTF here was scheduled to preserve perishable knowledge gained during the Nuclear Weapon Accident/Incident Exercise 2009, a similar national-level exercise hosted at F.E. Warren that involved 11 federal agencies and 1,300 personnel, said Blaine McAlpin, 20th Air Force technical director.

"During [Nuclear Weapons Accident Exercise 2009] we gained a lot of lessons learned, and General [Roger] Burg, [20th Air Force commander,] wanted that knowledge to reach everyone."

The visiting technical director said Malmstrom Airmen were doing a great job and if there were a real-world accident, they could stand-up a response and be "out the door."

"I'm impressed with the enthusiasm, knowledge and ability to generate communications, and infrastructure," Mr. McAlpin said. "They've gone from 0 to 60 in a short amount of time."