The U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Force Land Component Command hosted a joint force exercise April 22 to May 19, 2019 at various training sites in Indiana that simulated a nuclear detonation in both Phoenix and Detroit.
The 2019 training scenario involved both a command post exercise and a field training exercise that tested the units’ abilities with command and control challenges and practical exercises.
Vibrant Response 19, the command post exercise for elements of DOD’s Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Response Enterprise, drew in multiple state and federal agencies, including FEMA and units from 24 U.S. states and territories.
Guardian Response 19, the field-training portion of the exercise, brought together about 3,500 personnel and helped participants of VR19 exercise command and control in a multi-city disaster situation. The intent of the exercise was to demonstrate an ability to deploy, employ, and sustain a specialized military response in a realistic environment. Under the guidance and direction of Maj. Gen. Michael A. Stone, Task Force 46 commander, GR19 forces trained in aviation, medical, engineering, and other related tasks.
In the event of a nuclear attack, an established local incident command would lead the response effort. The state may then request federal aid, prompting the DOD’s CBRN Response Enterprise to mobilize in support of the local incident commander.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Chris Morris, a squad leader with the 444th Chemical Company, Galesburg, Illinois, was among the GR19 forces supporting first responders and search and extraction teams. Morris and his squad set up a decontamination line capable of receiving affected casualties. The casualties, for the exercise, included life-size dummies and role-players, some of which wore makeup and props to simulate wounds.
“We would fall-in on first responders and help decontaminate, whether ambulatory or non-ambulatory,” said Morris.
One area of the training site presented search and extraction teams with particular challenges designed to test their training. Using all-terrain vehicles, wenches, chains and ropes, the teams moved disabled vehicles and rubble to gain access to casualties trapped in tight spaces.
Along with 444th Chemical Company’s decontamination operations, medical personnel administered aid to the role-players. That teamwork, according to U.S. Army Maj. Meghan Groth-Prepura, commander of the 710th Medical Company Area Support, would give citizens wounded by the blast the best chance for survival.
“They’d be able to decontaminate them,” said Groth-Prepura. “And then we would be able to treat and stabilize prior to being transported to civilian entities and civilian medical care.”