Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Luis Rodriguez, left, and Maj. Patrick Rooney, standing third from...... read more read more
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TIRANA, Albania - Soldiers from the New Jersey Army National Guard Joint Training and Training Development Center traveled to Tirana, Republic of Albania, July 12-23, 2015, to participate in Joint Reaction 2015 Disaster Relief simulation exercise.
The exercise was a United States European Command sponsored, computer-assisted simulation of a major natural disaster.
The scenario had an earthquake hit the Albanian city of Elbasan causing numerous casualties and major damage. The participating countries’ task was to react to the initial situation, as well as exercise inputs designed to test their ability to respond to various aspects of the crisis.
The regional emergency management exercise was designed to test timely and effective deployment and employment of disaster relief assets, as well as enhance cooperation and interoperability among regional partners of the Balkan Peninsula which includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Slovenia.
The JT2DC team came prepared to the exercise.
The Center, which is located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., has trained battalions and brigades in simulation exercises and the military decision making process. Additionally, they have worked in the Joint Directorate of Military Support Joint Operations Center, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center, all of which supported the Super Bowl security, as well as the response to Hurricane Sandy – experience that greatly benefited the countries participating in the exercise.
“The JT2DC and the NJARNG has been very successful in its operations with natural disasters, especially the most recent Superstorm Sandy,” said Lt. Col. Robert J. Yencha, Executive Officer, JT2DC. “We shared our experience with the participating nations to improve their planning and response to handle such emergencies.”
The main control group headquarters and the coordination of the disaster response was in Tirana with the joint conflict and tactical simulation equipped partners replying to exercise inputs from their own countries to reduce the costs of moving personnel and equipment.
“This exercise was seen as vital to the strong friendship between the country of Albania and New Jersey,” said Yencha.
The JT2DC sent a nine-soldier team who served as observer/controllers to advise and assist the Albanian Armed Forces and the Albanian Ministry of Internal Affairs. They were split between the Local Prefecture's Joint Operations Center in Elbasan, the National Operations Center for Civil-Emergency in Tirana and the Ministry of Defense's Albanian Simulations Center.
“For them to work together in that capacity was unique as they build the emergency management for their country,” said Col. John Langston, commander, JT2DC. “The things we pointed out to them will help them improve their system.”
Upon the completion of Joint Reaction 2015, the JT2DC members stated that the exercise would not only be a continuation of the relationship that both the Ministry of Defense and the NJNG have shared in the past, but one which the NJNG can share with the Ministry of Internal Affair's National Operations Center for Civil-Emergency, the simulation center and all the participating countries.
“The exercise enhanced the abilities among member nations of the United States – Adriatic Charter to deploy and employ disaster relief assets to a stricken region in a timely and efficient manner,” said Yencha. “In addition, the exercise served to strengthen relationships among regional, national and local government officials.”
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2015 14:55 |
| Story ID: | 175774 |
| Location: | TIRANA, AL |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Joint Reaction 2015, by Mark Olsen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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