Emergency Operations Center (EOC)/Incident Management Team (IMT) training was recently conducted in the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Command EOC, Jan. 9-11.

NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer, Capt. Christopher Martin opened the training session, emphasizing the important role of team members, should a catastrophic event occur.

The three-day course focused on areas which ranged from EOC/IMT organization and coordination, mass warning and notification, to incident action plan/planning and Command, Control, Communications Computers and Intelligence (C4I) familiarization.

"What we attempt to do is standardize the emergency management process and procedures across the enterprise to enable installations to respond to and recover from incidents or disasters, regardless of scope," said Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) Shore Operations Trainer Group Emergency Management instructor, James Alger.

Alger is the leader of a four man delivery team which teaches an average of over 30 courses a year. Along with course lectures, students are required to perform in a training setting during an exercise scene setter. The first day called for responders to set up shop due to massive flooding, swells and high tides on the installation and also within the peninsula.

"Obviously there are many things involved in an emergency management evolution, but this training is the actual physical aspect of the training that we do online," said NAS Pensacola Installation Mission Readiness Officer, Trent Hathaway. "So in here, you are doing the communications and working as a team to complete the overall goal, which is to support the first-team responders."

The second day began with a recap of the first drill, proceeding into the second drill, an active shooter disaster, which took place on the base as well.

NAS Pensacola Emergency Management Officer, Burt Fenters, acted in the capacity of an extra facilitator during the drill.

"I think that as a whole we just need to focus on all the little things," said Fenters. "That means things such as insider communications and making sure that we have the right person in place to do the right job, which in turn is one of the key components for a successful EOC."

Fenters also said that due to the class' high volume of students from various tenant commands, broader reach could be achieved, and an increase in the pool of potential future EOC team members can be established.

"I hope that the students gain an understanding of the importance of efficient and effective response of the EOC in an effort to save lives and support the Navy's mission," said Alger.

The final day began with a demonstration of the NAS Pensacola Fire Department's emergency operating capabilities during an emergency response. The class then proceeded towards their third drilling scenario, which involved a bomb explosion on the base.

"I didn't have the help that I normally would, so I was actually doing the job of several people at once," said Intelligence Technician 1st Class Rachael Jackson, who served as the administrator team leader. "A lot of information was being thrown at me, so I was forced to prioritize what was most important at that moment. I thought this actually emulated how an EOC during a crisis would really be like, so I felt it was a good way of learning to work under pressure."

A final observation by the emergency team saw the group meet the expectations required to succeed.

"Overall, this group performed very well; the participation and cooperation of the class was very appreciated," said Alger. "We always relish the opportunity to come out to a command to conduct this training and from my standpoint, I think this group will be prepared for an actual event if it were to come in the future."

NAS Pensacola, situated in Escambia County, employs more than 16,000 military and 7,400 civilian personnel. This includes major tenant commands: Naval Aviation Schools Command, Naval Air Technical Training Center, Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 and 23, the Blue Angels, and the headquarters for Naval Education and Training Command.

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