Grissom to host joint mass-casualty exercise Published June 24, 2013 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Between Indiana corn and soybean fields, a battle will be fought on the Hoosier Heartland this summer -- a battle to save lives. Grissom will host its second annual, joint mass-casualty exercise in August as Air Force, Marine and Army reservists train for some of the most difficult scenarios American military personnel face on today's modern battlefield. The scenario for this year will focus around a joint, U.S. military force assisting with protection of a Middle East country's democratic voting process. During the exercise, an attack will occur that will test the ability of the Air Force, Army and Marine forces' abilities to work together to render aid to and evacuate the injured while still providing protection for the voting process. It's that joint collaboration that Bob Wydock, Grissom's deputy base emergency manager, said makes the training realistic. "It's more realistic because we don't operate in a vacuum, and it's not going to be our fire department overseas taking care of a disaster or only our security forces responding to an attack," explained Wydock. "We're a group made up of many different components, so it behooves us to practice that way -- to train the way we fight." To add to the realism and provide a better training environment, the exercise will employ explosive and smoke generating devices as well as blank ammunition. Members of the public should not be alarmed to hear loud noises including explosions, gun fire or sirens, or if they see smoke the morning of the exercise. "By creating a realistic scenario, we give them the best training situation we can give them," said Wydock. "If we can add realism with smoke, explosions and confusion, and not let them know what's happening next, which is true to life, it becomes a more realistic scenario, and won't just be them going through the motions." And, while the battlefield scene set amongst the amber waves of grain may not seem entirely authentic to the Middle East scenario, the location of the exercise showcases Grissom's capabilities to host such exercises and saves money. "By doing it here we get a really good training environment and we save a lot of money," said Wydock, noting that using another facility would necessitate travel-related expenses not incurred by a local event. While the exercise is closed to the public for safety reasons, media outlets desiring to cover the exercise should contact the 434th ARW Public Affairs office at (765) 688-3348. Grissom is home to the 434th ARW, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units and a Marine Corps communication detachment. Airmen, Soldiers and Marines routinely deploy from Grissom in support of the Department of Defense mission and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with Grissom and the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
