Hurricane exercise takes Katrina lessons to heart

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ken Hall
  • 47th FTW Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AFB, TEXAS --  Commanders here took lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina to heart Wednesday issuing an order to account for personnel--not only active duty military, Air Force civilian employees and contractors, but also their family members.

Air Education and Training Command today conducted a no-notice exercise, "Blow Torch 06," testing its ability to respond to a major hurricane. Part of the exercise directed each base under AETC command to gain 100 percent accountability for personnel and their family members. The accountability order generated quizzical responses from some. Past procedures had only required commanders be able to account for their military and civilian personnel, but circumstances like those encountered during Hurricane Katrina response efforts pointed to the need to account for everyone--including their families.

One contractor here, at first vexed by the query for what some might consider personal information, understood once the intent of the order was explained.

"It's great they're taking our families into account," Bennie Sanders, 47th Communication Squadron, said. "That really means a lot to me."

Laughlin's personnel include more than a thousand civilian employees and contractors, so they represent a large part of Laughlin's mission success. The Air Force has long recognized mission accomplishment increases when Airmen know their families are being taken care of so hey can then concentrate on the task at hand.

"This new accountability measure represents just our latest step in the direction of taking care of our people," said Col. Roger Thrasher, 47th Mission Support Group commander.

Col. Laro Clark, Laughlin's vice wing commander agreed. "Our mission to train pilots and our efforts to fight the war on terror can't be done without our people at the top of their game," he said. "Airmen who are worrying about the security of their families are not as effective as they could be. In a real-world situation, this can be disastrous--to the Airman, to the mission, or both."

Accountability drills for all personnel and their families will continue in future exercises to prepare for real-world emergency response efforts.