Team Kadena’s NEO exercise 2015

Members of Team Kadena participated in a non-combatant evacuation exercise at several locations around the base Oct. 28.

The focus of a NEO exercise is to gauge Kadena's ability to receive evacuees from other points within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region as well as evacuate Kadena's residents in times of crisis.  This exercise simulated a situation in which families and other dependents, including pets would need to be relocated to Kadena, according to Capt. Aaron Tissot, 18th Force Support Squadron assistant director of operations.

"This is the first time we've had an arrival exercise in the four years I've been here," said Tech. Sgt. Brad Campbell, 18th Medical Support Squadron NCO in charge of Tricare Operations. It was interesting to be receiving, seeing what the other end is like."

Representatives from nearly every squadron on base were present, acting as either NEO exercise augmentees providing mock in-processing for TRICARE, finance and other base facilities, or as participants to help acquaint themselves with the process of being evacuated.

"I think this exercise went very well, we definitely got an idea of Team Kadena's ability to receive folks in masse even though we had only a small number of role players," Tissot said.
 It allowed us to exercise the system; it was a nice meter that we've provided for a reception, according to Tissot.

As the Keystone of the Pacific, constant readiness is imperative to accomplishing Kadena's mission of providing support to allies in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, and exercises such as the NEO only improve the base's responsiveness, ensuring the U.S. Air Force continues to dominate the region in air, space and cyberspace.