Combined Readiness: Inter-Unit Casualty and Vehicle Recovery Exercise [Image 4 of 7]

Why It Matters

Maintaining rapid casualty‑extraction and recovery capabilities safeguards mission continuity and reinforces U.S. force posture in a contested Indo‑Pacific theater.

Key Takeaways

• 35th CES conducted casualty extraction drill.
• Exercise simulated car wreck scenario.
• Enhances emergency response for 35th Fighter Wing.
• Supports US air power projection in Indo‑Pacific.
• Demonstrates inter‑unit coordination and readiness.

Pulse Analysis

The U.S. Air Force’s civil engineer squadrons play a pivotal role beyond construction, providing critical emergency‑response services that keep combat units mission‑ready. At Misawa Air Base, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron partnered with fire‑protection teams to rehearse a realistic casualty extraction and vehicle recovery scenario. Such combined‑readiness drills sharpen technical proficiencies, test equipment interoperability, and ensure that personnel can swiftly transition from peacetime support to combat‑oriented operations when required.

In the simulated car‑wreck exercise, airmen practiced lifting a patient dummy from a damaged vehicle, coordinating medical triage, and executing vehicle recovery procedures under time pressure. This hands‑on training validates standard operating procedures, identifies procedural gaps, and reinforces inter‑unit communication protocols. By embedding these capabilities within the 35th Fighter Wing, the Air Force reduces response latency during real incidents, protecting both personnel and high‑value aircraft assets.

Strategically, the Indo‑Pacific region presents heightened operational risks, demanding a force that can sustain continuous air power projection. Readiness activities like the Misawa drill demonstrate the United States’ commitment to maintaining a resilient, forward‑deployed posture. As regional tensions evolve, the ability to quickly recover damaged platforms and treat casualties directly supports deterrence objectives and ensures that the 35th Fighter Wing remains a reliable pillar of allied security across the theater.

Combined Readiness: Inter-unit casualty and vehicle recovery exercise [Image 4 of 7]

Photo by Airman 1st Class Hannah Bench, 35th Fighter Wing · Misawa Air Base, Aomori, Japan · 02 Oct 2026

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) lift a patient dummy out of a simulated car wreck during an inter‑unit casualty and vehicle recovery exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 11 2026. The exercises enabled 35th CES fire‑protection specialists to maintain optimum emergency‑response readiness, safeguarding the 35th Fighter Wing’s ability to project air combat power across the Indo‑Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hannah Bench)

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Image Information

| Item | Details |

|------|---------|

| Date Taken | 02 Oct 2026 |

| Date Posted | 02 Nov 2026 20:30 |

| Photo ID | 9518671 |

| VIRIN | 260211‑F‑VQ736‑1224 |

| Resolution | 7931 × 5287 |

| Size | 8.23 MB |

| Location | Misawa Air Base, Aomori, JP |

| Web Views | 1 |

| Downloads | 0 |

Public Domain – This work, “Combined Readiness: Inter‑unit casualty and vehicle recovery exercise,” by A1C Hannah Bench, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on the DVIDS copyright page.