Task Force 76 trains for the ‘what if’

Photo By Sgt. Anshu Pandeya | CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. -- Task Force 76 chaplain assistant Spc. Roger Gagnon creates a memorial to the victims of the Pittsburgh nuclear attack during training exercise Vibrant Response 16. He is a member of the 302d Maneuver Enhancement Brigade based in Chicopee, Mass. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Anshu Pandeya)  

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, UNITED STATES

05.14.2016

Story by Capt. Michael Merrill 

372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind.– When catastrophes like hurricane Katrina hit the U.S., most Americans understand that the Federal Emergency Management Agent (FEMA) will arrive on the scene almost immediately to take the lead in the federal response. What most people don’t know is that there are three federal task forces that exist specifically designed to step in to support. The three military task forces are TF-76, TF-38 and Joint TF- Civil Support.
Exercise Vibrant Response is a command post exercise that simulates the task force response to a nuclear detonation in a major U.S. city. The exercise is like a role playing game where participants interact with one another. This trains people to learn what to do from the good and bad decisions they make. So that if the situation ever does happen they will make the right decision.
“Task Force 76’s mission is to support the lead federal agency, and is one of three federal task forces that are set up for all-hazards response,” said Maj. Gen. Ricky Waddell, commander of Task Force 76, based out of Salt Lake City. “With special capabilities for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear response, and our composition includes specialists in the “C-B-R-N” fields, but we have a variety of other support personnel.
A total of about 570 service members from several branches of the military have taken part in the exercise.
Key to the exercise is replicating complex scenarios the task force may face in responding to a real-world event.
“This exercise is the culminating training event that we do to prepare the staff to deal with the chaotic conditions in an urban disaster environment,” said Col. Doug Mills, the Chief of Staff for Task Force 76. “We try to replicate those requirements that our civilian agencies are going to ask of us and work through coordination events so we can provide them on-time support.”
Examples of the challenges thrown at task force during the exercise range from getting supplies and food to areas where roads and infrastructure have been destroyed to having nuclear experts track projected plume of nuclear fallout and the identify effects of exposure at different levels and times to dealing with a helicopter crash. The issues often come up at a moment’s notice and require efficient coordination and teamwork.
Having the ability to practice with the other units in advance of a real world event is critically important, Mills said. “The worst thing that can happen to us is that we’re exchanging business cards on the ‘battlefield’ and during that time of crisis. We need to be able to trust and depend on the people who have the knowledge and expertise. So this is how we stay ready.”

• Date Taken: 05.14.2016
• Date Posted: 05.20.2016 15:18
• Story ID: 198641
• Location: CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US