Laughlin and Del Rio execute exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jimmie D. Pike
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Laughlin Air Force Base and the City of Del Rio, and other state and federal agencies, worked together Nov. 13 for a major accident recovery exercise.

The aircraft accident response exercise simulated a Laughlin T-6 Texan II training plane crashing in Del Rio. Emergency responders from Del Rio, Laughlin, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office worked together to test their abilities to successfully operate together in case of such an emergency.

"The exercise was overall very successful, and the agencies worked together in a very timely manner," said Lt. Col. Johnny Hamilton, 47th Flying Training Wing inspections chief. "There are still things to smooth out, but that's what the exercises are for; they are learning experiences."

Exercises allow for mistakes to be made, which creates an opportunity for agencies to address them before a real event occurs.

"It is important to test your agency's plans," said George Solis, United States Border Patrol agent. "The best plans are developed from lessons learned during practical exercises. The controlled environment of the exercise provides a safe opportunity for growth."

Although the exercise was treated as seriously as a real-world accident would be, the agencies involved enjoyed the challenge and opportunity to work together.

"Working with Laughlin and our local partners, who are an integral part of any emergency response, was a privilege," said Solis. "The professionals we worked alongside provided insight into the challenges each agency faces in an emergency preparedness environment."

With the completion of the exercise, Laughlin's leadership explained the importance of camaraderie between the base and the communities that live alongside it.

"We perform military exercises with governmental participation outside the confines of the base to ensure that Laughlin and its neighbors are as prepared as possible to respond to a variety of potential emergency scenarios," said Col. Brian Hastings, 47th Flying Training Wing commander. "The surrounding communities work and play with us because they play a crucial role in Team XL's mission of training the world's best pilots."