Homeland Security military adviser visits Vibrant Response

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Collins | Coast Guard Rear Adm. June E. Ryan, military adviser to the Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security, receives a brief from a civilian contractor concerning the collapsed parking garage scenario at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Muscatatuck, Ind., Aug. 3. Ryan visited Camp Atterbury along with MUTC to better understand the level of extensive training and opportunities available through the use of the facilities during exercises such as U.S. Army North’s Vibrant Response 13-2. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas G. Collins, 27th Public Affairs Detachment)  

CAMP ATTERBURY, IL, UNITED STATES

08.03.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Thomas Collins 

27th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – Early in the morning Aug. 3, several distinguished guests, including Coast Guard Rear Adm. June E. Ryan, military adviser to the Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security, arrived at the U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) Exercise Vibrant Response 13-2 Joint Visitors’ Bureau here to receive an overview of the nation’s largest Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear disaster response drill.

As part of the overview, Ryan and other guests received briefings on the intended purpose and proposed outcome of the exercise. Additionally, they went to the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center to view the training being conducted.

According to Army Col. Joe Birchmeier, command engineer, USARNORTH, VR 13-2 is an extensive exercise focusing on how the Department of Defense can support civil authorities and coordinate and train for a national response to a catastrophic CBRN incident.

Falling directly in line with the intended purpose of VR 13-2, Ryan, due to her role as military adviser to the DHS Secretary, is linked in with how the nation would respond if such a disaster ever happened.

Ryan’s responsibilities are to provide counsel and support the DHS Secretary in affairs relating to the coordination and execution of policy and operations between the DHS and the Department of Defense.

“I am one of the links between DoD and DHS,” said Ryan. “The DHS disaster response missions are pretty broad, anything from floods and wildfires to WMDs. (weapons of mass destruction)”

While at MUTC Ryan saw how this first-class training center could facilitate a multitude of scenarios ranging from bus, train derailment and gas stations to a fully functioning power plant and hospital complete with a morgue.

“This is a great multifaceted training site,” said Ryan. “It’s a real national treasure.”

Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, adjutant general, Indiana National Guard, agreed that one of the great things about having a training site like this (MUTC) located in a rural part of southern Indiana is that trainees can use pyrotechnics and smoke machines without disrupting the local populace.

While at MUTC the exercise controller’s took the admiral around to a few of the structures including the collapsed parking garage.

“This is an amazing opportunity to put personnel through this type of training scenario,” said Ryan in regard to the collapsed parking garage. “It looks just like something you'd see in a disaster.”

According to Ryan assisting in emergency response situations like Katrina and others is why she finds her role at DHS gratifying.

“I love it,” said Ryan. “I absolutely enjoy it, because everyone at DHS is focusing in the right direction, saving lives and building community resilience. How can you not love a job where you can have an impact like that?”

• Date Taken: 08.03.2013
• Date Posted: 08.06.2013 10:42
• Story ID: 111421
• Location: CAMP ATTERBURY, IL, US