Operation Get Out of Dodge keeps Edwards Airmen sharp, ready Published Feb. 4, 2010 By Airman 1st Class William A. O'Brien 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- With the possibility of a short notice Unit Compliance Inspection at anytime, the installation exercise management team held an exercise titled Operation Get Out of Dodge Jan. 25 to the 27. In addition to the possibility of an unforeseen UCI, basewide exercises also allow for all personnel to be ready in the case of a real-world emergency or deployment. The three-day exercise included Phase I and II deployment readiness exercise Station training and evaluation, Emergency Management Exercise, Hazardous Material spill, Shelter In-Place Program, Anti-Robbery and Vulnerability Recheck. "(This exercise) prepares Edwards for potential real world events," said David Bookrum, installation exercise management team. "(By demonstrating) we have plans and procedures in place to accomplish our mission in regards to deployment, (emergency) response and the ability to survive and operate." Mr. Bookrum said all feedback regarding the exercise has been good, but he believes there are some things he would like to evaluate further. "Initial feedback has been positive," said Mr. Bookrum. "However there are a few areas and (potential) issues that will be exploring more in-depth. (This exercise) allowed us to review and implement our mobility machine. (It) provided us with (proof) that we can respond to a HAZMAT and Robbery situation. This exercise should (also) help identify shelter in-place program areas of improvement and allowed us to develop procedures to prepare for a base level exercise or AFMC level inspection for the Phase II. Phase I of the exercise evaluated base personnel's ability to process deploying Airmen through personnel deployment function line. It also evaluated the base's readiness program, including personnel records, briefings and programs available to deploying Airmen. " Phase I mostly took place in the mobility center. For (that Phase,) we processed 69 personnel," said Mr. Bookrum. "(Participating Airmen) receive deployment orders, meet procedures established by the Installation Deployment Plan, including a mobility line for record review and briefing." Phase II, he said provided the Airmen with more of a hands-on training. "(The purpose of) Phase II was train and evaluate our personnel. During Phase II, Airmen performed station training and evaluation, (in the areas of self-aid buddy care, weapons familiarization, post-attack recognizance and general knowledge of Air Force Manual 10-100. Along with a) vulnerability recheck." To train all base personnel in case of a real-world emergency, a hazardous chemical spill was simulated. During the spill, roads were blocked and building in the are were tested on their SIPP plans. "(The HAZMAT scenario,) we had some roads blocked as part of the response and19 buildings were evaluated for SIPP." Scenarios also performed included an anti-robbery, Emergency Management Exercise, the activation of the Crisis Action Team, Commander Control Centers, Unit Control Centers, Unit Deployment Managers (Phase I only), Emergency Operations Center, Incident Commander and Initial and Emergency Responders. Which according to Mr. Bookrum, allowed for several hundred Edwards Airmen to be involved. Mr. Bookrum said he was happy with everybody's participation and reminded all personnel that participation in exercises like these ensures they're prepared if a real emergency every actually happened. I'd like to express my appreciation to all the participants involved in the exercise," said Mr. Bookrum. "I must emphasis the importance of participants, instructors and evaluators for the Phase II, which allowed us redefine our procedures for training and evaluation out at Camp Corum to be more scenario driven and thank them for their cooperation."