Wing practices noncombatant evacuation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The 18th Mission Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center conducted a noncombatant evacuation operation--or NEO--exercise Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 at the Kadena Middle School here. 

The exercise helped military members and their families prepare for an event which may require evacuation from the island, such as a natural disaster or a breakout of major conflict in the Pacific. 

Unit representatives, known as NEO wardens, were on-hand to ensure families brought their NEO administrative packages with all the necessary documents to help the process go smoothly. 

"The contents of a NEO package depend on the needs of the family," said Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Wells, 18th MSS Airman and Family Readiness Flight. "A family's NEO package could contain medical information, school records, financial records, household goods inventory, passports ... anything important to that family they can take with them at a moment's notice." 

NEO wardens assisted families during the weekend exercise, as well as representatives from various base agencies that also ran a processing line. These units included the 18th Services Squadron, 18th Medical Group, chaplain services, customs, legal, finance, immigration and the American Red Cross. 

"The processing line is an opportunity for families to address various concerns ranging from legal and finance-related questions to whether or not their pets would be evacuated with them," said Sergeant Wells. 

The exercise was an overall success for both NEO wardens and participating families.
"The NEO exercise opened my eyes to how the entire process worked," said Staff Sgt. Dan Relfe, 18th Wing Safety office NEO warden. "I got to know what the various parts of the process are and learned about the roles of everyone involved. It all boils down to getting a wealth of valuable information." 

Sergeant Wells said families also gained a better understanding of the evacuation process including identification of family members and their tracking via the Noncombatant Tracking System. 

"Family members wear a bracelet with a barcode which we use to track them to the repatriation site," she said. "Once we enter them in NTS, we have 100 percent accountability." 

Participation by family volunteers was key to the success of the exercise and very much appreciated, said Sergeant Wells. 

"We asked family members to volunteer to come out for this exercise even though we know they have jobs and other obligations," said Sergeant Wells. "When they do come out for the NEO exercise, we appreciate it because it makes the exercise more realistic than using augmentees." 

For questions about NEO or to volunteer for future exercises, call the AFRC at 634-3366 or the unit NEO warden.