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.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | May 4, 2021

Iowa Air Refueling Wing tests emergency response in exercise

By Tech. Sgt. Daniel Ter Haar, 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Members of the 185th Air Refueling Wing Fire Department participated in a mass casualty exercise directed by the Federal Aviation Administration at the Sioux Gateway Airport Brig. Gen Bud Day Field May 1.

Chief Master Sergeant Michael Albrecht, 185th Fire Chief, said the 185th has a major role in fire protection at the airport.

“The 185th Air Refiling Wing Fire Department is the primary fire protection for all of the aircraft that operate at Sioux Gateway Airport. We cover the commercial, corporate, business and private aircraft that fly in and out of Sioux Gateway Airport, General Bud Day Field,” said Albrecht.

The large mass casualty exercise is required every three years by the FAA for the airport to remain certified to allow commercial operations. Albrecht said the 185th Fire Department was trained and ready.

“We do smaller-scale training that, when you put it all together, it leads to all the skills and abilities you need to respond to a large-scale disaster,” said Albrecht.

The exercise included the use of buses and cars to simulate aircraft on a runway and medical helicopters and ambulances to transport live role players as patients to area hospitals.

“We’re actually having the role players, there will be makeup on them to simulate injuries that the hospital emergency rooms will respond to as the patients get transported to the hospital to get treated, so it’s a very realistic situation, very realistic scenario,” said Albrecht.

The exercise included over 100 participants from first responders in the area, hospitals and the airport.

 

 

Related Articles
Airmen from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing move a fuel system icing inhibitor cart in place to begin refueling a U.S. Air Force KC-135 on the flight line at the Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, Scotland, May 18, 2021. The portable fuel injection system is used to add deicing fuel additive during ground refueling. Air Guard Airmen and their refueling aircraft are in Scotland providing air refueling support as part of NATO exercise Formidable Shield.
Air National Guard units support Formidable Shield exercise
By Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot, | May 20, 2021
PRESTWICK, Scotland – U.S. Air National Guard units from Iowa, Maine and Ohio are participating in the multinational missile defense exercise Formidable Shield 2021 in the United Kingdom this week. Formidable Shield is a...

Staff Sgt. Brock Logan (in the main cab) from the 132d Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Maintenance looks up at Staff Sgt. Russell Bunger (in the de-icing boom cabin) both requalified on de-icing equipment with the help of the 176th LRS Vehicle Maintenance, Alaska Air National Guard. The requalification took place during the unit’s annual training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
lowa Airmen Take Training to New Heights
By Capt. Matthew Doyle, | July 1, 2025
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – More than 75 Airmen from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 132d Logistics Readiness Squadron, 132d Communications Squadron and 132d Wing Staff traveled to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,...

Military and community partners listen to briefings during distinguished visitors' day at the Cyber Tatanka exercise June 12, 2025, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Cyber Tatanka enhances interoperability between industry leaders; the National Guard; international military partners; federal, state, and local governments; and non-governmental organizations to protect Critical Infrastructure from cyber threats.
Cyber Tatanka Exercise Hones Cyber Warrior Skills
By Master Sgt. Michael Kelly, | June 20, 2025
LINCOLN, Neb. - Airmen from the 132d Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, recently participated in Exercise Cyber Tatanka, a cybersecurity training event held at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.  The exercise, hosted by the...