Courageous Channel trains base on NEO readiness

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Exercise Courageous Channel was held here May 19 to 21 in a continued effort to train the Wolf Pack on noncombatant evacuation operations.

"This was designed to train the noncombatants as well as the NEO staff," said Mark Kern, 8th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness work and life specialist. "Courageous Channel gives people an opportunity to learn their responsibilities in the event of a NEO incident."

The exercise, which is held every spring and organized by the U.S. Forces Korea, enables U.S. military dependents, non-emergency essential civilians and contractors to walk through the process that would be employed during a noncombatant evacuation.

According to Eighth Army officials, USFK has conducted NEO exercises under the name Courageous Channel since 1996. It is an annual exercise and is unrelated to any current world events.

Participation in the NEO exercise is mandatory for all DoD-affiliated, command and non-command sponsored noncombatants to include all non-emergency essential U.S. civilian personnel employed by the Department of Defense.

"The goal of this exercise is to train our Soldiers [and Airmen] in the execution of NEO and also to familiarize 100 percent of our military dependents and other U.S. government-affiliated noncombatants on registration and evacuation processes," said Andrew Kim, Eighth Army's NEO planner.

With more than 60 members processing through the fitness center this year, Mr. Kern said the focus of this NEO exercise is the safety of the family members.

"We do this processing early on so the Wolf Pack members can concentrate on their war fighting mission," he said.

"This is all part of preparation," added Master Sgt. Brigida Hendrix, 8th FSS AFRC NCO-in-charge. "The first thing they do when they walk in is process and get briefings on what all is going on and what is required."

Mr. Kern said this exercise was really the noncombatant evacuees chance to come in and see how everything works.

"This increased readiness will ensure the rapid and safe evacuation of our family members and other U.S. government-affiliated noncombatants in the case of a contingency, crisis or hostilities," Mr. Kim said.