Quarterly exercise to test base’s readiness Published Nov. 1, 2013 WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- Residents in communities near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base may hear a variety of sounds - ranging from sirens, to "Giant Voice" audio messages, to emergency response vehicles - beginning Nov. 4 through Nov. 8 as the base's workforce takes part in a quarterly exercise. Visitors attempting to gain access to the base, as well as base employees, may experience gate delays, temporary facility closures and interruptions to certain services related to the exercise. Tightened security also could result in delays throughout the installation. Much of the visible exercise activity will take place during normal daylight duty hours. With the exception of brief periods of increased traffic congestion at base gates, most exercise activity will be transparent to the general public. According to Carmen Riches, 88 Air Base Wing Inspection Team chief, these exercises allow evaluators and senior officials to assess how effective and efficient base organizations are. "For this quarterly exercise, performance of these functions involving disease containment and other emergency responses are essential to provide the 88 ABW commander (also acting as the installation commander), and other installation-wide leaders with the basic information to assure effective management of resources, as well as identify specific problem areas which may occur during in-garrison emergencies, wartime, or contingency conditions," Riches said.