GULFPORT, Miss. – National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from more than 30 states are joining government agencies and first responders for PATRIOT South 20, a domestic operations training exercise sponsored by the National Guard Bureau at multiple locations March 2-5.
Approximately 1,400 people from federal, state and local entities are participating in the exercise at multiple locations including the Combined Arms Combat Training Facility (CACTF) at Camp Shelby, the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Camp McCain in Grenada County, and Guardian Centers in Perry, Georgia.
The exercise will test local, state and federal organizations' ability to coordinate the response to simulated emergencies, such as a hurricane and collapsed buildings, and search and rescue victims.
"During PATRIOT, the focus is practicing the way we would respond to a natural or man-made disaster," said Lt. Col. Roger Brooks IV, PATRIOT South 20 Director. "We're exercising Department of Defense and emergency management agency plans to build relationships and partnerships within the local community to ease any potential suffering."
Participants besides the National Guard include the Mississippi Department of Public Health, the Red Cross, Team Rubicon and local hospitals.
"I appreciate the state of Mississippi, the National Guard Bureau, and all the partners from multiple states across the U.S. for coming together and making this happen," said Brooks.