Mountain Star exercise wraps up at Mountain View

Military parachutists simulate a major air disaster exercise called MAJAID, which is an emergency response plan to a major air incident that exceeds the local resources of a responsible Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC). Image by Cpl Dan Strohan, 8 Wing Imaging, CFB Trenton ©2011 DND-MDN Canada

Military personnel from 8 Wing and the Royal 22e Regiment are concluding an exercise at CFB Trenton’s Mountain View training area in Prince Edward County today.

Dubbed as Exercise Mountain Star (Ex MS), training from Sept. 25-Oct. 7 was aimed at maintaining and further developing capabilities of military personnel in conducting modern air expeditionary operations.

“This Exercise provides our military personnel with a realistic training experience, in a simulated humanitarian deployment, to effectively operate and sustain a deployed operating base,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Sean Lewis, Exercise Director of Ex MS.

Participating personnel train on non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO), which is an operation, conducted to evacuate civilians from another country, generally due to a deteriorating security situation.

“This capability will allow 8 Wing personnel to provide enhanced security to Canadians abroad,” said LCol Lewis.

Military personnel also had the opportunity to simulate a major air disaster exercise called MAJAID, which is an emergency response plan to a major air incident that exceeds the local resources of a responsible Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC).

“When a major air disaster strikes, the JRCC responsible for the region is notified and it coordinates a Search and Rescue response,” said LCol Darwin Ziprick, Exercise Air Component Commander. “Depending on the magnitude of the disaster, a MAJAID may then be declared resulting in a rapid succession of events to provide immediate, additional support to survivors.”

As environmental protection is important to 8 Wing, all participating personnel are exercising due diligence in ensuring appropriate care for the environment. Security procedures are also implemented to ensure everyone’s health and safety.

Member of the Royal 22e Regiment protect the Drop Zone Rendezvous (DZRV) point, making sure all the parachutists make it off the drop zone safely. Image by Cpl Dan Strohan, 8 Wing Imaging, CFB Trenton ©2011 DND-MDN Canada

Acting as a stranded Canadian civilian, Canadian Forces members go through the administration area to get manifested and accounted for their flight home. Image by: Cpl Dan Strohan, 8 Wing Imaging, CFB Trenton ©2011 DND-MDN Canada

CC130612 loading the simulated stranded Canadians to complete the evacuation process of the non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO) exercise. Image by: Cpl Dan Strohan, 8 Wing Imaging, CFB Trenton ©2011 DND-MDN Canada