BEAUFORT, S.C. - George Green had never even heard of Vigilant Guard when he joined the South Carolina Army National Guard in 2007. Now, just a year later, he's right in the middle of it.
Pvt. Green, an infantryman in C Company of the 118th Mechanized Infantry Battalion based at the Florence Armory, enlisted in the South Carolina National Guard this past year.
"I wanted to be able to do something to help people," said Green, who lives in Greenville, S.C.
That's exactly what Vigilant Guard 2008 South Carolina is all about.
As part of one of the largest training exercises in the history of the National Guard, more than 3,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are working in the Beaufort County area for the April 21-24 Vigilant Guard exercise, responding to a simulated earthquake centered in Beaufort County. The exercise provides an opportunity for local, state and federal agencies to work together with the National Guard to respond to the emergency.
"While the National Guard can bring tremendous technology and equipment to support a community in response to a disaster, our most important asset is our people," said Brig. Gen. Les Eisner, deputy adjutant general for Army in South Carolina and commander of troops for Vigilant Guard 2008. "I'm proud of the professionalism being displayed by the Soldiers and Airmen participating in this exercise."
For Green, Vigilant Guard marks the first major training exercise in his career as a Soldier.
"This gives me a chance to help out, which is why I joined the Guard in the first place," he said.