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Three days of mayhem

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  For three days, sirens and lights blared into the night; gas leaks forced Airmen to seek shelter; deadly chemicals spilled; and people were robbed and killed - all under the watchful eyes of Team Dover's exercise evaluators.

The bedlam was all part of a Major Accident Response Exercise - or, as it is more commonly known, the "MARE" - which was held from Aug. 20-23 at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

The goal of the MARE was to prepare emergency agencies for the worst, presenting various disaster scenarios which could possibly effect a military installation in the real-world. This MARE featured a more substantial emphasis on off-base partnerships, with the Delaware State Police Department among the many organizations involved in joint emergency response operations.

"Exercises such as [the] MARE allow us to review and assess some of our most critical processes and procedures, and give our Airmen an opportunity to rehearse various scenarios and hone their respective skills," said Richard Bowman, chief of exercise evaluation and planning for the 436th Airlift Wing.

The exercise scenarios, which ranged from suspicious-package investigation to bio-hazard cleanup, challenged base agencies to respond to crises while maintaining the appropriate security conditions. The exercise also compels individuals to optimize the responses that would occur during a real-world situation.

MAREs also serve as an opportunity for Team Dover to prepare for the Operational Readiness Exercise due to take place next year, though Bowman says, ultimately, the exercises are a means to an end.

"The key here is to not worry about preparing for exercises, but to be the best Airman possible every day. If we do that, whether it's an exercise or a real world event, we will always be ready," said Bowman.