148th Fighter Wing Participates in Emergency Response Exercise

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jodi Kiminski
  • 148th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DULUTH, Minn. --  Members of the 148th Fighter Wing participated in a Major Accident Response Exercise (MARE) at the Duluth International Airport on June 3, 2010. The exercise was held in conjunction with local, state and federal emergency response agencies to test and validate emergency response capabilities.

"The exercise gives us and other emergency response services an opportunity to work together and ensure our standing operating procedures are up to speed," said Col. John Spencer, 148th Fighter Wing Vice-Wing Commander. "It's not the first time we've done it and it won't be the last."

The exercise also gives the 148th Fighter Wing an opportunity to exercise their command and control capabilities, delegation of responsibility, set-up and communications. Military specialties involved in the exercise included security forces, communication, public affairs and other support personnel.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires that all certified airports conduct a full-scale emergency exercise at least once every three years, and is a requirement in preparation for the upcoming Duluth Air and Aviation Expo. The airport also hosts annual tabletop exercises with local agencies, to include the 148th Fighter Wing.

More than 100 emergency responders and military personnel, along with dozens of fire trucks, ambulances and rescue vehicles participated in the aircraft crash disaster drill. Some of the other agencies involved include the Duluth Airport Authority, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Transportation Security Administration, the St. Louis County Sheriff's and Medical Examiner's Office, Gold Cross Ambulance and the Duluth Fire and Police Departments.