ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --
Ellsworth Air Force Base Airmen participated in an anti-terrorism exercise June 7, 2017.
The exercise tested the emergency response procedures base-wide to ensure the installation can identify and respond appropriately to a threat.
“The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate unit anti-terrorism programs and the implementation of the program objectives,” said Master Sgt. Martin Evans, the noncommissioned officer in charge of plans and programs assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing Inspector General office.
Once the threat was initially identified, the individual was apprehended by response force members assigned to the 28th Security Forces Squadron.
During initial interrogation, the mock-terrorist informed the Defenders there was a simulated vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in his car. Due to this, members from the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron’s fire department responded to the scene and notified the 28th CES explosive ordnance disposal flight to further identify the simulated explosive device and render it safe.
After the simulated explosive device was detonated, 28th Medical Operations Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight personnel responded to determine if there was a simulated biological agent present.
Exercises like this are held throughout the year provide insight into Ellsworth’s capabilities and improve upon emergency response processes.
“The objectives for this exercise included base-wide implementation of force protection condition measures and to establish effective command and control at the incident scene, which were met throughout the exercise” Evans said.