An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Scott participating in earthquake exercise

  • Published
  • By 375 Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill --  During the week of May 15, Scott Air Force Base will be participating in the National Level Exercise (NLE) 2011. NLE 2011 will begin with simulated earthquakes taking place on the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones, initiating the largest-ever non-DoD exercise. The fault zones are located approximately 150 miles to the south and northeast of Scott Air Force Base and will create massive simulated damage to the region's infrastructure. This means that the 375th AMW and tenant units will be demonstrating their ability to operate under degraded conditions while continuing to support the
warfighter.

"This exercise is an extremely important tool to assess our ability to provide support and recover the base for our partners at Scott. In light of the earthquake in Japan and the tornadoes that ravaged the south, we can see the importance of this exercise," said Col. Michael Hornitschek, 375th Air Mobility Wing Commander.

NLE 2011 is a White House directed, Congressionally mandated exercise that will be conducted in accordance with the National Exercise Program (NEP). This year's exercise is based on a natural disaster response, whereas past exercises have focused on responding to acts of terrorism. The NLE 2011 will include participation from the appropriate federal departments and senior agency officials, their deputies and staff, as well as key operational elements.

NLE 2011 activities will take place at command posts, emergency operations centers, and other locations, including federal facilities in the National Capital Region and federal, regional, state, tribal, local, and private sector facilities in the eight member states of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC). This functional exercise offers agencies and jurisdictions a way to test their plans and skills in a real-time, realistic environment, and to gain in-depth knowledge that only experience can provide.