Ground-burst grenade simulators and yellow smoke canisters, depicting a biological chemical, were erupting. Designated casualties were treated for transport to a field hospital. In this case, it was to support KC-10 fuel tanker aircraft and for moving supplies, equipment and troops. About 500 Travis personnel on different 12-hour shifts have been participating in the exercises, which are conducted quarterly in some form during the year. Information usually is compiled by evaluators for nine or 10 days after the mock war scenario for debriefing purposes.
Safety is a key issue.
Keeping troops hydrated by drinking plenty of water while wearing their protective chemical gear and clothing also is important, Heighton said. We've had firefights . . . Basically, we are a police force, a security force. Col. Steve Jones, the senior officer in charge at the camp command post, told of an earlier Scud missile attack simulation Thursday morning. You could hear bombs exploding in the compound.