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Marines with Camp Hansen Provost Marshal’s Office and camp guard carry a role player Dec. 12 during Exercise Constant Vigilance 2016 at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. Constant Vigilance is an annual exercise that sharpens MCIPAC emergency response skills on bases across Okinawa through rehearsals and drills in varying scenarios. During the casualty evacuation, Marines with Camp Hansen Marines cleared a mock collapsed building and removed simulated casualties. Upon removing the personnel inside the building, the Marines assessed casualties’ medical needs and escorted them to the landing zone to transport them out of the area to receive advanced medical care.

Photo by Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul

Exercise Constant Vigilance builds Marines’ natural disaster response skills on Okinawa

16 Dec 2016 | Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

Exercise Constant Vigilance 2016 took place Dec. 12-13 across Marine Corps Installations on Okinawa.

The exercise tested the emergency response and preparedness procedures of Marine Corps Installations Pacific. Participants included the Provost Marshal’s Office, various camp guards, and local Okinawa emergency services.

According to James Hammond, the anti-terrorism officer for Camp Hansen, it is crucial that local emergency services train alongside the Marines. The knowledge shared ensures that both organizations will be ready to respond side by-side in a crisis to save lives and provide essential support during recovery operations. 

“If a natural disaster were to occur, it’s not just the Marines who will be affected,” said Hammond. “Therefore it is important that we work and train as one team so when and if a disaster strikes, we’re able to effectively do what we do best and that’s save lives. 

To test and guide these procedures, scenarios were created to assess the capability of MCIPAC to respond to and recover from various natural disasters that results in casualties and/or damage to critical assets. 

One scenario included a mock earthquake, where role players played casualties and distraught survivors. Marines with PMO and camp services were forced to act on the feet to assess the damage, locate casualties, and maintain order and their composure despite the chaos around them.

“It is critical that the first responders learn to not only make the right decision but also do them quickly,” said 1st Lt. Mark Hanford, the watch commander for PMO on Camp Hansen. “As first responders, we don’t have time to call in to higher and receive command. That why we train and we train often, so when the time comes we’re able go into the situation and already know what needs to be done.”

CV16 is just one the many exercises that MCIPAC conducts yearly in order to prepare to effectively respond to crises in the Asia-Pacific region, save lives, and preserve regional peace, stability and security.


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