News

Team Dover tests capabilities in MARE

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William Johnson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Team Dover tested the base's emergency response capabilities with various emergency situation and scenarios in a major accident response exercise here Aug. 1 and Aug. 3-6, 2014.

The MARE is an annual training requirement that evaluates the base's readiness through a wide range of simulated emergency events that can find strengths and deficiencies of response plans of various groups and squadrons on base. The MARE also involved joint emergency response operations to demonstrate Dover's ability to inter-operate with outside agencies such as combat medics and first responders.

Maj. Tomasz Stoklosa, 436th Airlift Wing Inspector General chief of inspection, said the events were designed to test the base tactics, techniques and procedures as well as base communications to its populace while challenged with technical issues and various other obstacles.

"The variety of incidences and myriad scenarios presented to the base populace and responders were key in testing responses of on and off base emergency personnel," said Stoklosa. "Use of role-players, to include fake wounds and injury dressings, increased the realism of various exercise actions."

The exercise involved six different scenarios that ranged from an active shooter to a major vehicle accident. Other incidents included a car bomb and an emergency aircraft incident response. The MARE also gave Team Dover an insight to how the base would conduct daily operations while responding to real-world emergencies.

"The intended capabilities were thoroughly tested," said Stoklosa. "The MARE painted a clear picture of how responders perform their duties and was an invaluable tool for all involved from First Responders, Airfield Management personnel, Public Affairs officials, base leadership and other personnel."