HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Base officials will conduct Midnight Ride 26 Aug. 3-14 to evaluate and improve the installation’s ability to respond to real-world events while continuing to execute the mission.
Readiness is a core mission requirement.
“Midnight Ride not only assesses the readiness of the installation to deploy our military forces and sustain operations of our base partners, it also demonstrates to potential adversaries that we are able to respond to nefarious intentions, potentially preventing those actions,” said Thomas Ruud, 66th Air Base Group Inspector General.
The exercise will feature a series of simulated scenarios designed to test installation response capabilities and identify opportunities to strengthen preparedness.
Base personnel should expect increased emergency response activity on the installation, emergency notifications, brief traffic and gate closures, and other simulated scenarios throughout the two-week exercise.
While some activities may temporarily affect normal operations, exercise planners are working to minimize disruptions while maintaining a realistic training environment.
According to officials, the exercise’s goal is to evaluate the installation’s ability to coordinate and respond across multiple mission areas, including emergency management, security forces, medical, communications, logistics, legal, finance and other support functions.
“The goal of the exercise scenarios is to test the installation personnel’s ability to sustain operations in a contested environment while generating forces for forward deployment,” said Maj. Pierre LaPlume, 66 ABG IG director of Exercise and Inspections.
Safety remains a top priority throughout Midnight Ride 26. Exercise personnel will monitor activities, and any real-world emergency will take priority over exercise activities.
Personnel are encouraged to clearly identify any actual emergency or safety concern to emergency responders or exercise officials as soon as possible.
“Throughout the exercise personnel inspecting or controlling events will be easily identified via clearly marked blue vest” said Master Sgt. Kenneth Souheaver, 66 ABG IG superintendent.
The exercise will also provide an opportunity to identify strengths and areas for improvement across the installation. Lessons learned from the exercise will help with future training, planning and overall installation preparedness.
Planners encourage all personnel to follow official Public Affairs communication channels for updates and to rely on AtHoc messages, supervisors and designated exercise personnel for additional guidance.
For questions or concerns about Midnight Ride 26, contact the 66th Air Base Group Inspector General’s office at 66.ABG.IG.Workflow@us.af.mil.