PHOENIX - As millions gather in Arizona this Sunday for Super Bowl XLIX and related events, the state's National Guard is behind the scenes at work with several agencies to help ensure the safety and security of residents and guests.
As a precaution, Arizona's Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen stand ready to support local, state and federal authorities during the NFL's championship game as well as at the dozens of concerts, attractions and sporting events occurring before game day.
To effectively respond to a variety of potential requests from civil authorities, Guard leaders here assembled Joint Task Force-Super Bowl.
"The task force's primary mission is to ensure unity of effort and adequate, timely, and scalable responses to requests for support from civil authorities, not only in support of the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, and the Waste Management Open, but also anywhere else in the state of Arizona," said Army Brig. Gen. William Hall, the task force commander and land component commander of the Arizona Army National Guard.
Guard officials said the Super Bowl mission aligns perfectly within its established homeland operations and domestic response missions on the ground and in the air.
Arizona Air National Guard pilots and F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 162nd Wing in Tucson will enforce the FAA's temporary flight restriction around University of Phoenix Stadium during the game - ready to intercept any aircraft that enters the 30 nautical-mile-radius. The North American Aerospace Defense Command fighters will refuel midair from Guard KC-135 Stratotankers from the 161st Air Refueling Wing in Phoenix.
Five National Guard civil support teams from around the country are assisting authorities at several major events in addition to the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl; the 91st from Arizona, the 95th from California, the 92nd from Nevada, the 72nd from Nebraska, and the 63rd from Oklahoma. CSTs survey and preemptively detect any hazardous material threat in order to advise civilian responders and facilitate the arrival of additional state and federal military forces if necessary.
Arizona Army National Guard Soldiers from the 2-285th Assault Helicopter Battalion have trained and plan to have UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters on standby in case emergency responders need a robust airlift and transport capability.
Military police and communications specialists from the 158th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade are also rehearsing possible support operations and are standing by to augment first responders if needed.
"It's important that we live the motto "Always Ready, Always There,'" said Army Col. John Hoefert, the brigade's commander. "We are simply postured and are leaning forward in the event the civilian response community requests capabilities and resources that aren't readily available."
Hoefert sees the mission as a chance to train his troops and work build relations in the community.
"The Super Bowl is simply a great backdrop and an opportunity for us to train, interact with our civilian partners, and build upon our already well-established relationships within the community. We plan on watching the Super Bowl from the comfort of our operations center, but in the event our partners need something, we'll be ready if requested."