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Wing Inspection team challenges base personnel

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Luke Olson
  • 114th Fighter Wing
Sioux Falls, S.D. --  The 114th Fighter Wing Inspection Team challenged base personnel on how they would react to a real world terrorist attack in the U.S. by holding an Integrated Defense Exercise at Joe Foss Field, Jan. 26.

The target for integrated base defense is to provide full dimensional protection for people and assets and it involves every Airman playing an extremely vital role as a sensor and potential defender of the base.

"The intended goal for this exercise was to test the knowledge of base personnel on integrated defense measures and the strategic decision making skills involved while implementing action items within the exercise," said Senior Master Sgt. Edward Smithback, 114th Inspector General superintendent.

According to Smithback, the unit and wing commander were aware of the exercise prior to its commencement, but with little information. The aim was to provide valuable strategic information for the wing commander to use for future planning and training unit personnel.

"This provides the wing commander a real time look at how individuals in key positions are able to react to, and implement headquarters directives with minimal manpower," Smithback said.

The directive in this exercise moved the base personnel straight into the Force Protection Condition DELTA. The FPCON System describes the progressive level of preventive actions and responses to terrorist threats against U.S. personnel and facilities. The threat level DELTA applies in the immediate area where a terrorist attack has occurred or when intelligence has been received that terrorist action against a specific location or person(s) is imminent.

"This integrated defense exercise tested Security Forces ability to standup to the highest national security threat posture with no FPCON buildup by advancing straight to DELTA," said Smithback. "It provided valuable strategic information for the wing commander to use for future planning and training of unit personnel."

During the exercise, basic security procedures included: requiring credentials to get inside a building, accounting for all personnel, inspecting every vehicle, person and bag entering the base, and deploying the 114th FW Ready Augmentee Team. The RAT team aids commanders in identifying, training, and tracking personnel to meet short-term augmentee needs for installation level exercises, contingencies, wartime, or emergency situation/scenarios.

From the IG Inspection stand point the new Air Force Inspection System (AFIS) allows wing and group commanders more flexibility to inspect and exercise areas they feel have the greatest risk said Smithback.

"Taking in the events going on in the world today, the threat to the United States Interests and Security is relevant and applies very much to security policy and reaction to the national and local threat," said Smithback. "The exercise drove our unit to react quickly to our Federal Mission with minimal staffing. The exercise was very successful and provided an excellent basis to build on."