An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | June 7, 2019

Civil engineer Airmen learn disaster skills at Global Dragon

By Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Gutierrez 188th Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard

PERRY, Ga. – Civil engineer operations students from the 147th Attack Wing learned route-clearing skills during Exercise Global Dragon 2019, held at the Guardian Centers of Georgia, May 29.

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, clearing transportation routes in a reasonable amount of time can save lives and prevent further destruction.

“These skillsets could be used, for instance, during Hurricane Harvey, when emergency services could not get into communities,” said Senior Master Sgt. Nathan Sullivan, a Global Dragon instructor from the 147th Attack Wing, a component of the Texas Air National Guard. “Storms blow down powerlines, trees and cars. We can come in and clear the route for responders to get through.”

Students put their skills to the test at a scenario called Tornado Alley, a road made to simulate the after-effects of a tornado as close to real life as possible. Students are challenged with overturned cars, buses, downed power lines, steel beams, and trees thrown across in an unstable manner. Every piece of debris needs to be pushed and cut meticulously to ensure responders stay safe.

Sullivan said that training and expert instruction his Airmen receive here at Global Dragon is unlike anything else.

“There is no way we could set up a scenario that this exercise could do; they have been amazing,” he said. “We get to come here and have the experts with us.”

Global Dragon is a biannual, Air National Guard led exercise providing training for career fields across the mission support enterprise in as close to real-world conditions as possible.

 

 

Related Articles
LTC Michael Antonas of the Ohio Army National Guard presented a challenge coin Feb. 26 to four Hacking for Defense students at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh for their work on a project to help recruiting efforts.
Ohio Army National Guard Hacking a Recruiting Challenge
By Chierren Denman, | May 23, 2025
PITTSBURGH – The Ohio Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion partnered with four Hacking for Defense students at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to increase Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)...

U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with the 166th Regiment - Regional Training Institute completed a Combat Lifesaver course at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Dec. 16-20, 2024.
Pennsylvania Guard Medical Training Sites Consolidate, Aligning Training Efforts
By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith, | May 23, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — In a significant step toward streamlining Army medical training operations and enhancing readiness, the Medical Simulation Training Center (MSTC) here has consolidated under the 166th Regiment –...

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, joins reserve component senior leaders to appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense during a presidential review of the National Guard and reserve forces fiscal year 2026 budget in Washington, May 22, 2025.
Nordhaus to Senate: ‘National Guard Delivers Incredible Value to America’
By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely, | May 23, 2025
WASHINGTON —Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense Thursday, the National Guard Bureau’s senior leader emphasized the Guard’s value to America.Air Force Gen. Steven Nordhaus, the 30th...