MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Misawa officials tested their ability to care for noncombatant evacuees during an exercise that began Monday.

Misawa residents serving as role players in noncombatant evacuation operation exercise "Safe Haven" simulated arriving at Misawa from "Base YY."

In a real-world scenario — such as a natural disaster or military action on the Korean peninsula — American noncombatants might transit through Misawa on their way to the United States.

The exercise lets the base agencies that would be involved in an evacuation practice their skills, said Regina Fivella of the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

Deanna Dlugiewicz, who works with Fivella, said the goal is to provide "security and stability" to those en route, focusing on issues such as food, shelter and clothing.

In a real situation, the people arriving on the planes would have plenty of questions, from "How am I going to get paid?" to "How long will I have to be here?" Dlugiewicz said while manning the exercise command-and-control center.

The role players were given assignments to test the process. Some adults pretended they were antsy children who couldn’t sit still during the briefing. One spoke only Spanish and needed a translator. One continually tried to leave the in-processing center in the Mokuteki Community Center.

After a quick briefing, the evacuees were given a chance to meet with representatives from military and civilian personnel offices, the legal office, Air Force Aid Society and even a chaplain.

The American Red Cross explained that each evacuee could send one 50-word emergency message to family or friends. A finance clerk explained that their lodging costs and per diem allowances would be paid upon arrival in the United States.

Taream Roberson, a base civilian, said he thought the base did a good job running the exercise.

"I know it will be a lot more stressful in a real-world situation," he said. "A lot of this is just simulated."