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Kadena, Okinawan emergency responders conduct joint exercise

  • Published
  • By Scott D. Hallford
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
March 9, 2007 --  Kadena, Okinawan emergency responders conduct off-base exercise. Kadena emergency members teamed with their Okinawan counterparts Feb. 28 for a crisis management exercise that tested procedures in the event a situation required a joint response. 

Almost 400 emergency responders were involved in the first-of-its-kind exercise that had been planned for a year. 

Lasting about three hours with the scenario of an Air Force C-12 en route from Yokota Air Base, Japan, crashing outside Kadena, the primary goal was to practice guidelines and communications between the U.S. military and local community. The guidelines for a joint Okinawan - U.S. emergency response were established after a Marine Corps helicopter crashed off base three years ago. 

It's a matter of "who has responsibility where and how we'll communicate," said Col. Max Kirschbaum, 18th Mission Support Group commander. "Just by talking through these steps we further improved our relationship and our communication. 

"We want to exercise the exact provisions of the guidelines and do everything that's called for," said Colonel Kirschbaum. 

""It demonstrates for the community our ability to effectively respond to any mishap," said Lt. Col. Mark Arlinghaus, 18th Wing inspector general.

(Compiled by 18th Wing Public Affairs)