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 | Jan. 8, 2015

Indiana's 181st Intelligence Wing Airmen conduct no-notice disaster exercise

By Lt. Col. Frank Howard 181st Intelligence Wing

HULMAN FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ind. - Arctic weather and drifting snow blanket the Wabash Valley making outside activities and driving treacherous. Despite the bone-chilling weather conditions, Airmen from the 181st Intelligence Wing are routinely outside training to respond to winter storms and local disasters.

Airmen from the 181st IW conducted Operation Polar Plunge Tuesday and Wednesday to hone their ability to rapidly respond to severe weather conditions and disasters to provide long-range communications and incident assessment during times of disaster and severe weather conditions.

"Polar Plunge validated our rapid response, beyond-line-of-sight communications capabilities, and will act as a basis for our future disasters support packages," said Maj. Ryan Harvey, 181st IW.

Drill status Guard members, who train a weekend a month and two weeks a year, showed up to a no-notice exercise and within hours traveled by Humvee to two locations 50 miles from the base to establish long-range communications and data-link connectivity with the wing.

"My Airmen reported to the squadron from their civilian jobs and within hours of being briefed on the simulated disaster, identified the locations they needed to travel, established communications, took and sent back pictures and established a self-sustained response center for-follow on incident responders," Harvey said. "Not a bad day’s work before noon!"

"The dedication and sacrifice shown by every member of the wing is truly inspiring," said Col. Kip Clark, 181st IW commander. "My Racers are the first choice for the homeland and we will continue to train and increase our capabilities to assist our Hoosier neighbors."

"Our Airmen are highly educated, trained and skilled," Clark said. "They are dedicated to supporting community, state and nation whenever called upon."

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group prepare dummies for a simulated casualty evacuation at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, July 17, 2025. The 108th Medical Company engaged in a weeklong field medical exercise to validate their readiness and elevate their medical and basic Soldier skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Christopher Booker)
Pennsylvania Guard Medics Simulate Chaos in Exercise
By Capt. Christopher Booker, | July 18, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard's 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group, are engaged in a comprehensive two-week field medical exercise here.The...

Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Maintenance Group and 152nd Logistics Readiness Squadron personnel load Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) equipment onto MAFFS #8, aircraft #554 at the Nevada Air National Guard Base on July 12, 2025. U.S. Northern Command activated two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) Aircraft, one from the 152nd Airlift Wing out of Reno, Nevada, and one from the 146th Airlift Wing out of Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in California. Two C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS and their associated personnel will support firefighting efforts in the Western United States. The 152nd Airlift Wing’s “High Rollers” and 146th Airlift Wing's “Hollywood Guard” report on July 14, 2025, and will be initially based out of Channel Islands Air National Guard Base in California and are anticipated to be in place through August 14, 2025.
Nevada Air Guard Wing Assists in Firefighting Efforts
By Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber, | July 18, 2025
RENO, Nev. – U.S. Northern Command has activated two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System Aircraft, one from the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing out of Reno, Nevada, and one from the 146th Airlift Wing out of...

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, join Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the adjutant general of Texas, for an aerial assessment of flood-affected areas in Central Texas and to visit Guardsmen on duty supporting civil authorities with response efforts, Kerrville, Texas, July 15, 2025. To date, National Guard search and rescue operations, led by the Texas National Guard, have resulted in the rescue of more than 525 Texans. Hundreds of Guardsmen remain on mission to continue working with interagency partners in search and rescue and recovery operations.
Nordhaus, Raines see Heroism, Partnerships in Central Texas
By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely, | July 18, 2025
KERRVILLE, Texas – Early on July 4, almost 30 inches of rain fell within hours across Central Texas’s Hill Country, surging the Guadalupe River and triggering catastrophic flash flooding.Within hours, Texas National Guard...