Yokota wraps up Readiness Week

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Soo C. Kim
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  In line with Department of Defense guidance to maintain mission focus amidst the ongoing government shutdown, members of the 374th Airlift Wing conducted a week-long "Readiness Week," Oct. 7-11, 2013, designed to test their response to a range of contingency scenarios.

The exercise began with joint training between the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 374th Maintenance Group, as they worked to prepare both cargo and aircraft for a simulated deployment.

Following the preparation, Yokota Airmen received base defensive skills training and ability to survive and operate training, which included: self-aid buddy care, decontamination and post-attack reconnaissance.

The week ended with an emergency management exercise, initiating the base's response to an active shooter and a chemical spill scenario.

"The emergency management exercise had two main objectives. First, we wanted to verify our training for active shooter incidents and second, we wanted to assess our emergency operation center's ability to handle two simultaneous events on the base," said Col. Clarence Lukes, 374th Airlift Wing vice commander. "We threw two engaging exercise scenarios and the wing performed well at both."

Readiness Week also provided Yokota leadership the opportunity to roll out the new Air Force Wing Inspection Team program, which focuses on small groups of experts who test Airmen's ability to conduct their mission under various conditions.

The new, internally-driven program replaces the previous model of Inspector General inspections, which consisted of larger groups from outside the installation--a move that saves the Air Force money and gives accountability back to the wings according to Maj. Yancey Walker, 374th Airlift Wing director of inspections.

"Traditionally, we had IG inspectors descend on a base to ensure we were complying with Air Force regulations," said Walker. "The new way we are going forward is using our own experts internally as agents to ensure the commander has the accurate picture of what's going on, and also we can relay the best information up to Pacific Air Force to put that responsibility of compliance back on the commander."

Overall, the week's scenarios and the training were a great success, according to Lukes.

"We met many of our objectives, including the training of our WIT. We fell short on some, but there's always room for improvement," Lukes said. "Readiness week is over, but we have to stay vigilant. Being an airlifter means we always have to be on watch, and I'm extremely proud of our Airmen and the job they have done this week and the part they play in being the best wing in the Pacific."