Malmstrom demonstrates real-world response in no-notice exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Emerald Ralston
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Outside the weapons storage area here July 10, a convoy, including Humvees and a payload transporter, prepared to go on what most thought was a routine trip to the missile field. But when the PT took an unexpected, sharp turn near Camp Grizzly shortly after the drive began, personnel began to respond with real-world urgency to this no-notice exercise. 

More than 70 personnel, including security forces, maintenance, fire department, medical group, explosive ordinance disposal and the helicopter squadron, responded when two rogue maintainers broke free of the convoy in an attempt to steal a weapon component. 

The exercise was held to demonstrate the Wing's capability to deal with an internal threat to the weapon system, and test the capabilities of the response forces in preparation for the upcoming Nuclear Surety Inspection. 

"The exercise scenario was an insider threat from maintenance personnel," said Master Sgt. Matthew Blair, 341st Security Forces Group standard evaluations superintendent. "The maintainers attempted to acquire a protection level one resource." 

An added twist to this exercise was the limited number of people aware the exercise was taking place at all. 

"The only people that were aware of the exercise were the planning committee," Sergeant Blair said. "It turned out to be a complete surprise to those who responded." 

The exercise was a force-on-force exercise to test the capabilities of first responders and their ability to safeguard this type of resource, Sergeant Blair said. This type of exercise allowed for a realistic factor to get a true response from those involved. 

"We learned a lot in this exercise," said Col. Michael Fortney, 341st Missile Wing commander, during a debriefing of the exercise. "We train for these situations because if one of these weapons ends up in the wrong hands - that is the worst scenario in the world." 

Although the exercise went smoothly, there is always room for improvement, Sergeant Blair said. 

"Overall the exercise was a go," he said. "It showed us what we, as a group, needed to fine-tune in preparation for the upcoming NSI. It showed us how well our training has prepared us to respond to emergency situations and what we, as a force, would do to defend against a threat. Overall, I'm proud of our group and what we can accomplish."