Photo By Master Sgt. Helen Miller | A Soldier from the 460th Chemical Company from Augusta, Mich., Michigan Army National...... read more read more
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – In a notional nuclear attack on a major American city, the 460th Chemical Company from Augusta, Michigan, is training at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center this week, to take part in Vibrant Response 14.
Vibrant Response is a field training and command post exercise designed to test the capabilities of the Department of Defense's ability to respond to a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear event.
The unit has been training over the last year in preparation for this first responder exercise. During the training, the 460th decontamination capabilities were used to augment or provide relief in place for decontamination operations initially started by local first responders. During the exercise, observer controller-trainers from U.S. Army North observe and evaluate the participant performance and provide feedback.
In a terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction scenario, the 460th is trained to assist the local, state and federal response efforts.
In the training, it is estimated that a total of 65,000 citizens were within the area defined as the evacuation zone, due to the fallout created by the nuclear detonation. Some of these citizens would be evacuated immediately, while those further downwind might shelter in place and be evacuated later. Soldiers evacuate and decontaminate civilian role-players during the exercise.
“Our Soldiers are highly motivated, here to train, and are preparing to do a mission we hope to never have to execute,” said 1st Lt. Bryce Benda of the 460th Chemical Company. He has been preparing his Soldiers for this mission for the past year.
The Michigan National Guard's 12,000 Soldiers and Airmen stand ready to serve both state and nation. With operations at three air fields, two major training bases and more than 40 armories around the state, Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are trained to provide a wide-range of disaster response and other support to civil authorities, while maintaining a high degree of combat readiness. The Michigan National Guard operates two State Partnership for Peace programs, with Latvia (since 1993) and Liberia (since 2009). Joint Forces Headquarters is in Lansing.
MEDIA ADVISORY: For more information, please contact the Michigan National Guard public affairs office at 517-481-8141.
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2014 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 138367 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US |
| Hometown: | AUGUSTA, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 624 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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