More than 1,400 service members from the Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin National Guard joined approximately 500 participants from various civilian state, federal and local emergency response agencies to carry out the Vigilant Guard 2015 exercise at three training sites in Minnesota: Duluth, Camp Ripley and St. Paul from August 22-28, 2015.
The exercise simulated multiple disasters, and provided an opportunity for participants to gain valuable interagency relationships and practice coordinating resources with civilian authorities, responders and other military units that might be part of a future response effort.
Pictured below, the 54th Civil Support Team (CST) out of Madison, Wisconsin conduct an exercise in Duluth. The team conducted 3 days of training focusing on chemical, biological, and radiological threats. The exercise gave them the opportunity to work with counterparts from the 5th Civil Support Team from Minnesota, 71st Civil Support Team from Iowa, along with the Duluth Fire Department’s chemical assessment team.
Images courtesy of 148th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, adapted from video and formatted for CBRNE Central.