The Arkansas National Guard (ARNG) is well prepared to support Arkansans during natural disasters and other declared emergencies. When situations happen that require military and civilian organizations to work together, it is amazing to see how quickly people can come together to solve a problem. The ARNG is always looking to improve processes, the ability to effectively communicate with other state and local agencies has been a topic of interest. Taking an active approach on the matter, the ARNG works closely with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) to bridge the language barrier between military and civilian counterparts. Capt. James Gearhart, the 87th Troop Command’s Emergency Management Coordinator stated, “There is some Emergency Management terminology that sounds military, but they do not exactly mean the same thing. When there is an extended emergency, the 87th TC will be part of the task force, it is better for us to adapt to the language that better meets the needs of the public we serve.” At the start of Arkansas National Guard Annual Training, mid- senior leaders completed the G-300 (Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents) course on Camp Robinson, Arkansas, May 29-31, 2026. This course is designed to provide training for personnel, typically first responders, who are required to apply the Incident Command System (ICS) during expanding incidents with multiple resources and options to sustain long-term operations. ICS derived from processes learned to handle Californian wildfires in the 1970s, eventually, it evolved and became a Presidential Directive post 9/11 for states to adopt. It is truly a collective effort to support an emergency. In this course, the ARNG trained with Fire and Police departments, Forestry Services, Emergency Medical Services and Team Rubicon, a volunteer agency active in disaster. It is critical to build rapport, shared understanding and expectation management before the emergency happens. “It was great we were able to meet the needs of the guard when they requested this additional class to coincide with their AT, the guard are our partners in everything that we do,” said John Minard, Emergency Management Coordinator and G-300 Instructor. Every year, guardsmen from across the state participate in a 14- day annual training to focus, refine, and ensure soldiers are prepared to execute their assigned MOS.