Moments after a gray van crashed through Gate 6 at McChord Field, the Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Main sprang into action.

"There's a level of synergy in here," Ed Wood, Joint Base Emergency Manager, said as he stood at the back of the EOC.  "None of the events in this exercise has been rehearsed."

Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) conducted a full-scale simulated force protection exercise dubbed "Castle Falls." 

Yesterday's exercise's was designed to test how well McChord and JBLM-Main reacted to and worked together in meeting a domestic threat.

Three distinct threats were posed - a vehicle borne improvised explosive device, or VBIED, a hostage situation and a person with a gun.

It was a busy day.

"We're going to see how well we react to the actual threat, as well as how well we control entry points, gates and building security," Wood said.

The van had stopped outside Hangar 9 on the airfield's Charlie Ramp.  Two individuals got out and ran away.  Packed with unknown explosives and three visible propane tanks, a digital clock showing 1 hour, 35 minutes and 22 seconds of time left before detonation was ticking.

McChord's Security Forces quickly cordoned off the area, set up a mobile command post, called out the 627^th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and began to coordinate with the EOC on Fort Lewis.

"As things begin to develop, we can track them here," continued Wood.  "Since we've got every directorate here at JBLM in this room we can then begin to coordinate our responses as well as plan for an eventuality."

Representatives from finance, law enforcement and fire protection to Morale, Welfare, Recreation (MWR), public works and logistics worked at their computers in providing information about the VBIED.

"Think about it," Wood continued.  "MWR is here in case we have to put people in gymnasiums; logistics is here for food and water.  We're able to respond to not only this kind of threat but to natural threats like earthquakes as well."

While civilian and military personnel worked telephones and computers in the EOC, an EOD vehicle rolled up at McChord Field.  Its team quickly began to assess the situation.

As EOD and Security Forces personnel conferred, a F6A robot began moving toward the van, over 1500 feet away.

"This is a large VBIED, or vehicle borne improvised explosive device," explained Tech. Sgt. Heidi Leon, 627^th Civil Engineers Squadron. 

She pointed out that in dealing with VBEIBs, there is a difference between what can be done during wartime and in a civilian situation.

"We're very good at working the wartime piece," Leon said.  "But the peacetime mission is different and we got to keep that forward in our mind."

MSgt. Dan Massey, 3^rd EOD Battalion, agreed.

"The Army and Air Force are definitely working together on this. Everything learned from this exercise will be used to make our responses better here at home," he said.