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EM helps Airmen prepare for worst in times of war

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melissa B. White
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Plan for the worst, but hope for the best might be the way Airmen should think in hostile environments when it comes to emergency management.

"The very second you say 'that'll never happen,' it will happen," said Tech. Sgt. Mark Hansen, 451st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron wing emergency manager.

Rather than being known solely for their ability to train Airmen on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, emergency managers are making a bigger step toward preparation and response. One of the best ways to do that is by briefing all new Airmen arriving at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to be part of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing on proper indirect fire attacks procedures, ground attacks and other local threats - the most common emergencies in the area of responsibility.

"If people know they planned ahead, they're generally more confident in their responses. Thankfully, I see that the wing is taking preparedness seriously, especially with our more common threats," said Sergeant Hansen, who is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

Sergeant Hansen is the only official emergency manager assigned to the wing, but emergency management is a wing-wide responsibility where everyone should be involved and aware.

"The importance of the program is important everywhere, no matter the location or threat," said the sergeant.

To make the program more widespread, the 451st ECES Emergency Management section develops emergency response plans for the unit and trains more than 200 Airmen to be representatives for the emergency operations center, unit control centers, post-attack reconnaissance teams, and to be emergency management representatives within their units.

"The teaching I do has a direct impact on everyone and the missions of the wing and that gives a great deal of satisfaction," said Sergeant Hansen, who has been deployed here since December.

In addition to training members for response to enemy attacks, he also helps the wing prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as the region's coming high-water season.

"We don't know how much rain we're going to get, but Murphy's Law always applies," said the sergeant. "We have to keep as much of our equipment and assets above the water so we can keep the mission running as smoothly as possible. And we also encourage people to keep their personal belongings off the ground so they can stay focused on the mission instead of being distracted about worrying whether their laptop or something else is getting destroyed."

Some measures to prevent the concerns weather may bring include putting sandbags around areas to keep water from draining into certain locations. Ditches along roadways on base were also widened and deepened to allow the flood waters to be carried away more easily.

Whether dealing with enemy attacks or weather issues, the wing's emergency management is all about preparedness or response because the wing will always have missions to perform off base regardless of what's happening on base.