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Vigilant Guard exercise gives 188th vital training in disaster response

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Hillier
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CAMP GRUBER, Okla. --  Saving lives is one half of the dual mission that Army and Air National Guard members train for. At Vigilant Guard Arkansas 2013, held at Camp Gruber, Okla., Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Ark., and multiple other sites throughout the state of Arkansas, April 15-19, 2013, citizen soldiers from units in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas joined forces to train with each other and civilian first responders to better prepare for disaster response.

"As Guardsmen, we tend to focus on our federal mission of fighting wars, but we also have a state mission for disaster response," said Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Redding, 188th Installation Emergency Manager. "One day we may be doing our traditional jobs, but when disaster strikes we're all responders."

The training scenario they're given is an earthquake in Northeast Arkansas. In addition to dealing with a collapsed college dormitory, they're also tasked with a damaged hospital, which, along with fallen concrete and steel, presents additional hazards from the medical diagnostic equipment inside the structure. The troops this week are part of urban search and rescue (USAR) units or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, environmental enhanced response force package units (CERFP), which are designed to respond to the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive threats that civilian first responders are not equipped to handle.

This year's exercise brought CERFP troops additional benefits not available in previous years. The chief advantage for participants is face-to-face interaction with their counterparts from other states.

"We're testing out our standard operating procedures and guidelines, and seeing how we can better incorporate our operations," said Army 1st Lt. Jeremy Willis, A Company 2-156 Infantry, part of the Louisiana National Guard. "The biggest part of that will be how we talk with each other and work together, how the flow of information works from top to bottom and bottom to top."

The flow of information is key in an actual disaster because troops work around the clock until their mission is complete. CERFP units are intended to work with each other in shifts, transferring responsibility for patients and equipment to the next unit.

"We usually train alone, because we're so scattered throughout the United States," said Army Lt. Col. Johnathon Ballard, Louisiana CERFP commander. "It takes exercises like Vigilant Guard for us to train together. If a disaster actually occurs and we work with these units again, we already have a working relationship. We understand what our strengths and weaknesses are. When you work with other units you get to learn battle rhythms, and how to transfer the mission to another unit as they come in, so that we can conduct 24-hour operations."

Much of the work of disaster response takes place at night, but CERFP units primarily train during daylight. This year's exercise brought the added challenge of operating in darkness.

"This is our first iteration in 24-hour operations," said Sgt. Maj. Kevin Masterson, of the 19th CERFP, part of the Indiana National Guard. "In our other training, we've had to simulate that. It's been a learning experience for us, but it's good. We took over operations at 2 a.m. from the Kentucky CERFP, so we've been up all night but we're in good spirits."

Air Force Master Sgt. Sean Fretwell, search and extraction medic NCOIC, 19th CERFP, Indiana National Guard, said this is the first time he has trained at night in his seven years on the CERFP.

"It's a more realistic experience, so it's very beneficial for us. Training is completely different at night. The biggest thing, obviously, is visibility. We have to have situational awareness of all our equipment and our surroundings. Having been a firefighter for over 10 years, I know what it's like to be on something like this as a first responder. Being able to include the assets that the Guard brings to the table is truly a great benefit."

Airmen from the 188th Fighter Wing who make up part of the Arkansas National Guard's 61st Civil Support Team (CST) worked in partnership with the Oklahoma National Guard's 63rd CST responding to scenarios throughout Northwest Arkansas. At each location, they trained in urban search and rescue tactics with local civilian agencies.

"As military members, we are never in charge of the operation," Redding said. "It may be military people making things happen, but we are always working in support of civil authorities. We work hand-in-hand with the City of Fort Smith, for example. We are a part of this community and it's a cohesive team, but it's something that we've had to build."

National Guard CERFP units often train with first responders in their own states. Vigilant Guard, however, offers the same opportunity for those civilian agencies to work alongside Guardsmen from throughout the region. They get the same benefits from training with military responders, and can provide a different viewpoint to consider when sharing ideas.

"We know that we don't have all the resources it may take to overcome a disaster in a given area," said John Luther, Emergency Manager for Washington County, Ark., "Knowing the military is supporting us in that role is very, very important. When we can train with those same people we will work with in a disaster, it just makes us all more competent. We know one another; we're not strangers. We know each other's techniques, and I think the beauty of it is that there's going to be lives saved because of the effort."

Vigilant Guard exercise gives 188th vital training in disaster response

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Hillier
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CAMP GRUBER, Okla. --  Saving lives is one half of the dual mission that Army and Air National Guard members train for. At Vigilant Guard Arkansas 2013, held at Camp Gruber, Okla., Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Ark., and multiple other sites throughout the state of Arkansas, April 15-19, 2013, citizen soldiers from units in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas joined forces to train with each other and civilian first responders to better prepare for disaster response.

"As Guardsmen, we tend to focus on our federal mission of fighting wars, but we also have a state mission for disaster response," said Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Redding, 188th Installation Emergency Manager. "One day we may be doing our traditional jobs, but when disaster strikes we're all responders."

The training scenario they're given is an earthquake in Northeast Arkansas. In addition to dealing with a collapsed college dormitory, they're also tasked with a damaged hospital, which, along with fallen concrete and steel, presents additional hazards from the medical diagnostic equipment inside the structure. The troops this week are part of urban search and rescue (USAR) units or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, environmental enhanced response force package units (CERFP), which are designed to respond to the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive threats that civilian first responders are not equipped to handle.

This year's exercise brought CERFP troops additional benefits not available in previous years. The chief advantage for participants is face-to-face interaction with their counterparts from other states.

"We're testing out our standard operating procedures and guidelines, and seeing how we can better incorporate our operations," said Army 1st Lt. Jeremy Willis, A Company 2-156 Infantry, part of the Louisiana National Guard. "The biggest part of that will be how we talk with each other and work together, how the flow of information works from top to bottom and bottom to top."

The flow of information is key in an actual disaster because troops work around the clock until their mission is complete. CERFP units are intended to work with each other in shifts, transferring responsibility for patients and equipment to the next unit.

"We usually train alone, because we're so scattered throughout the United States," said Army Lt. Col. Johnathon Ballard, Louisiana CERFP commander. "It takes exercises like Vigilant Guard for us to train together. If a disaster actually occurs and we work with these units again, we already have a working relationship. We understand what our strengths and weaknesses are. When you work with other units you get to learn battle rhythms, and how to transfer the mission to another unit as they come in, so that we can conduct 24-hour operations."

Much of the work of disaster response takes place at night, but CERFP units primarily train during daylight. This year's exercise brought the added challenge of operating in darkness.

"This is our first iteration in 24-hour operations," said Sgt. Maj. Kevin Masterson, of the 19th CERFP, part of the Indiana National Guard. "In our other training, we've had to simulate that. It's been a learning experience for us, but it's good. We took over operations at 2 a.m. from the Kentucky CERFP, so we've been up all night but we're in good spirits."

Air Force Master Sgt. Sean Fretwell, search and extraction medic NCOIC, 19th CERFP, Indiana National Guard, said this is the first time he has trained at night in his seven years on the CERFP.

"It's a more realistic experience, so it's very beneficial for us. Training is completely different at night. The biggest thing, obviously, is visibility. We have to have situational awareness of all our equipment and our surroundings. Having been a firefighter for over 10 years, I know what it's like to be on something like this as a first responder. Being able to include the assets that the Guard brings to the table is truly a great benefit."

Airmen from the 188th Fighter Wing who make up part of the Arkansas National Guard's 61st Civil Support Team (CST) worked in partnership with the Oklahoma National Guard's 63rd CST responding to scenarios throughout Northwest Arkansas. At each location, they trained in urban search and rescue tactics with local civilian agencies.

"As military members, we are never in charge of the operation," Redding said. "It may be military people making things happen, but we are always working in support of civil authorities. We work hand-in-hand with the City of Fort Smith, for example. We are a part of this community and it's a cohesive team, but it's something that we've had to build."

National Guard CERFP units often train with first responders in their own states. Vigilant Guard, however, offers the same opportunity for those civilian agencies to work alongside Guardsmen from throughout the region. They get the same benefits from training with military responders, and can provide a different viewpoint to consider when sharing ideas.

"We know that we don't have all the resources it may take to overcome a disaster in a given area," said John Luther, Emergency Manager for Washington County, Ark., "Knowing the military is supporting us in that role is very, very important. When we can train with those same people we will work with in a disaster, it just makes us all more competent. We know one another; we're not strangers. We know each other's techniques, and I think the beauty of it is that there's going to be lives saved because of the effort."