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CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – From a distance, the white trailer appears to be just another vehicle providing satellite communications. However, the Defense Logistics Agency has created its own portable operations center enabling it to be more effective when disaster strikes.
DLA has mobilized its mobile command center in support of Vibrant Response 13-2, a major field training exercise, conducted by U.S. Northern Command and led by U.S. Army North (Fifth Army).
The government agency is supporting the 167th Theater Sustainment Command from Birmingham, Ala., and other federal and state agencies training to respond to a catastrophic domestic incident through the capabilities of its trailer.
The self-sufficient asset has its own power generator, emergency lighting, teleconference capabilities and secure satellite communications. A 10-person team has direct access to the entire DLA network infrastructure system and resources required to affect logistics. The DLA can mobilize the small command center anywhere in the United States to respond to emergencies and DLA has plans to make it globally accessible by flight.
“One of the great things DLA brings to any situation, especially for humanitarian and disaster response, is the fact that we have great resources to tap in to. And the mobile command center is sort of a gateway to that,” said Col. Seann Cahill, DLA incident response team commander.
The DLA has not always been properly equipped to support emergency operations once on the ground. In 2012, after super storm Sandy hit the East Coast, the team arrived at Fort Dix, N.J., and found themselves competing for resources.
“We wanted to make a timely impact without worrying about getting phones or computer generated assets. So we came up with the mobile command center to help us with that,” said Col. Joe Hart, DLA national account manager.
Since its conception, DLA has mobilized the command center in other training exercises to develop readiness and better understand how to handle a major emergency that requires Department of Defense support.
As a component of U.S. Northern Command, USARNORTH coordinates timely federal military response to disasters in the homeland to help the American people in time of need.
| Date Taken: | 08.15.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2013 13:44 |
| Story ID: | 112112 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Defense Logistics Agency supports emergencies from independent mobile, by SGT Mekonya Cheefus, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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