Before winter storms close roads, down power lines or isolate communities, the Arkansas National Guard is already preparing to respond.
More than 40 Soldiers and Airmen recently completed the Guardian Response Training Academy, a four-day course that prepares service members to support civil authorities during state active duty missions. Through classroom instruction, hands-on training, and a realistic disaster response exercise, participants developed the skills needed to safely assist Arkansans during emergencies.
The academy's mission is to develop mission-ready Soldiers and Airmen capable of supporting their communities through safe, disciplined and professional emergency response during state emergency operations.
"Our Soldiers and Airmen spend the majority of their training time mastering their military specialties and wartime mission-essential tasks," said Col. Tommy Edwards, the Arkansas National Guard's director of military support. "The Guardian Response Training Academy provides a dedicated opportunity to prepare for the unique civil support missions they perform here at home. It allows us to focus on the tasks required during disasters and emergencies, ensuring we are ready to support the people of Arkansas whenever we're called."
Throughout the course, students received instruction in chainsaw operations, power line safety, vehicle recovery techniques, personnel accountability, and radio communications. The course included a winter storm response exercise that challenged students to coordinate with multiple agencies while serving as liaison officers in a realistic emergency scenario.
"The purpose of this course is to provide our Soldiers with the tools they need to serve the citizens of Arkansas in their time of need," said Capt. Scott Coldeira, Guardian Response Training Academy officer in charge. "Our goal is to equip them with skills they can apply immediately in the field during an emergency in order to keep Arkansans safe."
A hallmark of the academy is its emphasis on building partnerships before disaster strikes. Students trained alongside instructors and subject matter experts from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Arkansas State Police, Camp Robinson Fire Department, Arkansas Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS), First Electric Cooperative and other response partners.
"One of the most important aspects of Guardian Response Training Academy is partner integration," said Edwards. "Training alongside ADEM, utility providers, first responders and other partners builds relationships before a crisis occurs, creates a shared understanding of each organization's capabilities and strengthens the teamwork necessary to deliver a faster, more coordinated response when Arkansans need it most."
For many participants, those relationships became one of the course's greatest takeaways.
"The most important lesson I've learned in this course is the importance of building relationships," said Staff Sgt. Maricarmen Cavazos of the 189th Civil Engineering Squadron. "Knowing who I'm working with now will allow me to work seamlessly with our partner agencies when we're called upon for state missions."
Cavazos said the training will also help her prepare other Airmen for emergency response missions.
"This course will help me better serve the citizens of Arkansas by giving me the knowledge and skills to train Airmen who volunteer for state missions and ensure they can safely support first responders and the citizens of Arkansas," she said. "It will also prepare me to serve as a liaison officer and represent the 189th Airlift Wing while demonstrating the capabilities our unit provides in support of the state."
The academy also reinforces a simple principle: emergency responders must be prepared to operate safely in already dangerous conditions.
"When they are called, there is already a major problem," said Michael Davis, firefighter and engineer with the Camp Robinson Fire Department. "We don't want them to become a part of the problem. We want to equip them so that they can be the solution."
According to Edwards, that preparation begins long before the first emergency call.
"I hope Arkansans know that the response they see is built on months of preparation and the dedication of exceptional Soldiers and Airmen who volunteer to serve their communities," he said. "A disaster is the worst time to be solving problems. We solve them beforehand so we can respond faster and more effectively when Arkansas calls."