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Soldiers from Denmark observe Vigilant Guard 2008
April 21, 2008
Pvt. Rene Andersen, a soldier in the Denmark Army, packs his gear during Vigilant Guard 2008, a disaster response training exercise based in Beaufort County, S.C. on April 18, 2008. Andersen and a contingent of 40 Danish soldiers are participating in the exercise as observers. Many of the Danes served alongside South Carolina National Guard Soldiers in 2007 in Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terror.

Media invitation to the largest preparedness exercise in South Carolina hosted by the National Guard
April 21, 2008

Oklahoma City first responders teach search and rescue
April 21, 2008
Danny Atchley, a member of the RIG team from Oklahoma City, explains the design characteristics that when into the creation of this unique training site. It is the only one of it's kind in the entire southeast. Various training sites like this specially constructed "rubble pile" will become a common learning ground for civilian and military rescue and disaster response teams participating in the Vigilant Guard 2008 exercise from 21-24 March 2008 in Beaufort County, S.C. Army and Air National Guard personnel from South Carolina and numerous states will be conducting an earthquake response exercise in coordination with local and federal emergency agencies. This training site was designed by Response International Group from Oklahoma City. Their main focus is to train military and civilian emergency response teams on victim extraction from building collapses, natural disaster aftermath, etc.

Alabama Airman follows family tradition
April 21, 2008
Technical Sgt. Melissa DiQuinzio of the 143rd Medical Group, Rhode Island Air National Guard, and Staff Sgt. Devin Boggan, 187th Medical Group, Alabama Air National Guard, , unpack medical equipment to be used during Vigilant Guard 2008, a disaster response training exercise based in Beaufort County, S.C., April 20, 2008. Vigilant Guard is one of the largest disaster response training exercises in the history of the National Guard, involving more than 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen from more than a dozen states.

Kansas Airman ready to lend a hand
April 21, 2008
Staff Sgt. Doyse Manz, a surgical technician with the 190th Medical Group of the Kansas Air National Guard, unpacks medical equipment to be used during Vigilant Guard 2008, a disaster response training exercise based in Beaufort County, S.C., April 20, 2008. Vigilant Guard is one of the largest disaster response training exercises in the history of the National Guard, involving more than 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen from more than a dozen states.

Staying in touch after disaster strikes
April 21, 2008
Chief Warrant Officer Larry Fuller and Chief Warrant Officer Kenneth Drennon, both members of Joint Forces Headquarters-South Carolina, work to maintain the communications network during Vigilant Guard 2008, April 20, 2008. Vigilant Guard is one of the largest disaster response training exercises in the history of the National Guard, involving more than 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen from more than a dozen states.

Convoy regulations keep traffic moving
April 21, 2008

Beaufort and Charleston, South Carolina: Still making history today
April 21, 2008
Charleston, S.C., in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck on Aug. 31, 1886.

South Carolina Guard's 43rd Civil Support Team assists local fire district during National Guard exercise
April 21, 2008
Two members of the Recon/Survey element of the South Caroliina's 43rd Civil Support Team, conduct an initial sweep of a suspicious area as part of the Vigilant Guard exercise held in the Beaufort, S.C. area Apr. 21. Other participants in the exercise included the Bluffton Township Fire District. The 43rd CST, the only joint Army-Air National Guard unit in the state, is located in West Columbia, S.C., and is made up of 22 full-time National Guard members. "This exercise helps prepare us for future events such as natural disasters, Turner said, and gives us the opportunity to work with the National Guard and they with us."

Greenville Soldier prepares for disaster response
April 21, 2008
Pvt. George Green, a member of the 118th Mechanized Infantry of the South Carolina National Guard, prepares a mobile kitchen tent unit for use during Vigilant Guard SC, a disaster response preparedness exercise that brought together more than 2,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen to work with local, state and other federal authorities in Beaufort County, S.C. Green, a resident of Greenville, S.C., joined the National Guard in 2007.

Rubble pile creates realistic search and rescue scenarios
April 21, 2008
Various training sites like this specially constructed "rubble pile" will become a common learning ground for civilian and military rescue and disaster response teams participating in the Vigilant Guard 2008 exercise from 21-24 March 2008 in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Army and Air National Guard personnel from South Carolina and numerous states will be conducting a earthquake response exercise in coordination with local and federal emergency agencies. This training site was designed by Response International Group from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Their main focus is to train military and civilian emergency response teams on victim extraction from building collaspes, natural disaster aftermath, etc.

Louisiana Guard prepares for hurricane season
April 18, 2008
Soldiers help an injured role player during the Disaster Response Exercise. Soldiers were given different missions simultaneously to test the Louisiana National Guard's ability to respond to an emergency.

Kentucky National Guard, Emergency Management prepared to respond to earthquake
April 18, 2008

Media invitation to National Guard disaster preparedness exercise
April 18, 2008

National Guard brings public affairs capability to exercise
April 18, 2008
From right to left, Lt. Col. Eric Maxon, a National Guard Bureau public affairs officer, Col. Peter J. Brooks, the South Carolina National Guard public affairs officer, and Master Sgt. Paul Mouilleseaux, also of the National Guard Bureau public affairs office, discuss placement of joint information center equipment on Tuesday, April 15, in Beaufort, S.C. Public affairs specialists from various states have been sent to South Carolina to support the exercise. Vigilant Guard is a three-day National Guard-hosted exercise in Beaufort, beginning April 21. The exercise is designed to better prepare the National Guard for natural disasters in a cooperative effort with various national, state and local government agencies. It is the nation's largest ever National Guard (NGB) sponsored exercise.

Eagle Vision assists with Vigilant Guard disaster operations
April 18, 2008
Master Sgts. Troy Wilkerson (left) and Ed McManus from Eagle Vision install a "petal" on their commercial satellite antenna on 17 April 2008. They are supporting emergency exercise senarios for the Vigilant Guard Exercise in Beaufort, South Carolina. Eagle Vision is assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Communications Flight from McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, SC. Their role as a commerical satellite antenna mobile ground station is to provide communications, imagery, and data to users from civil engineers and intelligence units. During a time of disaster, Eagle Vision provides satellite imagery to military, federal, and civil authorities.

Army Rehearses for Hurricane Season
April 17, 2008
Maj. Steven Gilbert, ARNORTH G3, places markers on a map to indicate where units will respond in the hurricane preparedness drill that took place at Fort Belvoir's Community Center last week. The hurricane Rehearsal of Concept drill is held several times a year in various locations.

Alaska Air National Guard Assists in Helicopter Crash Rescue
April 17, 2008

National Guard's State Partnership Program helped Croatia join NATO
April 17, 2008

National Guard troops vigilant in Kosovo's transition to nationhood
April 17, 2008
Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, the adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard; Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Brig. Gen. John Davoren, commander of Kosovo Force's Multinational Task Force East, tour Kosovo on April 12, 2008.