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JBPHH Airmen demonstrate ability to survive, operate in CBRNE environment

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Terri Paden
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  Members of Team Hickam participated in an inspector general's exercise here Nov. 6-8 to demonstrate mission capabilities and ensure Airmen are ready to defend the base at a moment's notice.

It was a total force effort as Airmen from both the 15th and 154th Maintenance Groups, Operations Groups and Logistics Readiness Squadrons participated in the three day event, which tested the groups' ability to survive and operate in a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive contaminated environment.

However, the CBRNE exercise also served an additional purpose; it gave the groups a chance to clear outstanding write-ups from the 2013 Consolidated Unit Inspection.

"Last November during the CUI there were deficiencies identified, so this exercise is set up to aid the unit's in clearing up those deficiencies and close the loop on them once and for all," said Master Sgt. Raymond Campbell, 15th WG Inspector General's superintendent.

Though the exercise was comprehensive, Campbell said the goal was to continue with the existing flying schedule and day-to-day operations, and insert task evaluations throughout the day.

Campbell said the exercise lined up with the intent of the new commander's inspection program by keeping the participants focused on the mission and continuous improvement rather than preparing for an inspection.

Staff Sgt. Everett Bettencourt, a 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief and exercise participant, acknowledged the importance of participating in proficiency exercises while also recognizing the unique challenges of completing his job in a simulated contaminated environment.

"It's pretty hard to work in MOPP gear ... very hard actually," he said. "There's obviously less mobility and the heat plays a factor, but you follow the work/rest cycles and hydrate and you get the job done."

Bettencourt said participating in the exercise while maintaining daily operations underscored the notion that the mission always come first.

"If anything happened like this in the real world we'd need to know what to do so it's important we do things like this to keep up to speed," he said. "Repetition is the key and working with a sense of urgency is really important. It's also really important that the mission of getting the aircraft ready to go comes first."

Though the days were long and hot, Master Sgt. Matt Smith, 15th Maintenance Group chief inspector, said the group stepped up to the challenge.

"They worked hard in this environment with the challenging scenarios they had, and they really stayed up to the task," he said. "They stayed on point, charged through and did what needed to be done."