Exercise Ground Rules – Playing by the Rules

  • Published
  • By David Wheeler
  • 341st Missile Wing Plans and Programs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Air Force Global Strike Command exercises and inspections conducted at Malmstrom Air Force Base cannot obtain desired objectives if personnel are getting hurt, if they are not sure how or when to properly evacuate a work center, or the benefit does not out-weigh the monetary cost to the government. It is important for personnel on Malmstrom to understand the exercise ground rules as they apply to active-duty, retirees, Guard personnel, government employees, family members, contractors and other civilians on Malmstrom Air Force Base.

There have been a fair number of exercises this year, and planners understand these exercises cause inconveniences, and impact "normal" operations. However, the exercise scenarios and rules are designed to minimize the impact on mission-related activities and to reduce any inconvenience to non-military personnel.

Below are the fundamental ground rules that apply to exercise events. All personnel should use these rules when preparing for and participating in local exercises conducted by the 341st Missile Wing.

 Safety: Safety takes precedence over exercise events. The Exercise Evaluation Team, or EET, will not knowingly put anyone at risk to conduct an exercise.
o If you believe that exercise activity will cause some unnecessary danger, jeopardize personal safety or damage equipment, then you have the right to cease all actions and ask for a safety review.
o Immediately contact an EET member (Identified by their badges or vests during an exercise) or ask anyone in your chain of command.
o An exercise will always be stopped to ensure safety.

 Building Evacuations: Bomb threats, fires or other similar hazards during an exercise or inspection will require certain buildings and facilities to be vacated. Military and government employees will comply fully with evacuation events.
o Contractors will respond to all evacuations unless doing so would result in mission impact or government delay of contractor performance.
o The Child Development Center, Youth Activity Center and personnel residing in base housing, dormitories, billeting or transient lodging facilities are exempt from exercise evacuation.
o Offices will maintain minimum personnel for security requirements at evacuated facilities.

Restricted Movements: All personnel will take appropriate shelter when implementing exercise Force Protection Conditions, or FPCON measures. The intent is to demonstrate capability, however, the following exemptions apply:
o Contractors will comply as applicable, as long as the movement restrictions do not cause substantial increased costs to the government.
o Family members, military retirees and other civilians will be required to comply long enough to demonstrate the capability to adequately protect all base personnel.
o After demonstrating capability, each facility manager must request permission to release personnel through their Unit Control Center.
o All base personnel will be allowed to move during increased FPCONs to report for scheduled medical appointments.


Overtime:
o Generally, the wing's policy is not to incur additional expenses for exercises.
o Squadron Commanders will determine the requirement for civilian participation.


For more detailed information on exercise and inspection ground rules, reference 341st MWI 10-204 Attachment 2. Other questions can be directed to an EET member or call the 341st Missile Wing Plans and Programs Office at 731-7789.