Not your average NEO exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Desiree Economides
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  More than 200 dependents and service members participated in a mock Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation May 13, during a week-long Samurai Readiness Inspection at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

The Department of State orders a NEO when a crisis threatens the stability of foreign states, and utilizes all available resources, to include U.S. military forces, to evacuate U.S. Government employees, their families, and other U.S. citizens. These crises can range from natural disasters to political unrest.

Unlike previous NEO simulations, where families arrived at Yokota in route to a safe haven, this situation dictated that Team Yokota members look at the preparedness of their own families.

"The new Commanders Inspection Program has us look at areas we do not typically look at to ensure all of our capabilities are tested," said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Vorbeck, 374th Airlift Wing inspections superintendent. "By looking at our NEO process in a departure aspect rather than reception, we were able to validate that Yokota is ready to respond and keep its non-combatants safe by efficiently moving them out of harm's way."

During the mock NEO, base agencies came together and set up stations for individuals to process through as if they were departing from Yokota to a safe haven in the United States. This required coordination and communication.

"We are practicing the system as it is designed by the Department of Defense and as close to a real world situation as possible," said 2nd Lt. Marshal Neubauer, 374th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness deputy chief. "We want to see everything in place."

In addition to the inspection team looking at the capabilities of the Wing, dependents also took the NEO as an opportunity to learn more about the process.

"If this [exercise scenario] really happens, I want to know what I would need to do in order to get out of the country safely, and also to be able to help other spouses who may be lost in the process," said Leigha Hoff, a military spouse and volunteer.

Another spouse, Chiara Rutledge, echoed her sentiment, "I learned there is true support if you need it in this situation. Many agencies such as legal, Red Cross and even a chaplain are here to help."

One of the most significant aspects focused on during the inspection was the importance of being prepared.

"This really emphasized that I need to make sure I have all my documents together and ready to go," said Hoff. "Being unprepared can be the difference between a quick or a lengthy process in a potentially chaotic time."