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. 5, 2011

Nevada Army National Guard supports New Year’s Eve security effort in Las Vegas

By Army Sgt. Mike Getten Nevada National Guard

LAS VEGAS - As revelers braved strong winds and unusually cold weather this New Year’s Eve, about 200 Nevada National Guardmembers conducted their ninth annual Vigilant Sentinel exercise and provided additional security for the celebration in support of southern Nevada’s civilian authorities.

“This exercise provides an excellent opportunity for us to train with and support the civil authorities,” said Army Lt. Col. Cory Shultz, the support operations officer with the17th Sustainment Brigade, Task Force South.

Soldiers with the 72nd Military Police Company and the 240th Engineer Company practiced security measures in several locations throughout the city.

The drainage system that travels under Las Vegas Boulevard, also called The Strip, was one of the locations. With more than 300,000 travelers visiting the city and thousands of partygoers celebrating just above the drainage system, it made security even more important in that area.

“This is a good mission being it’s the end of the year and this is a accumulation of everything we have been doing throughout the whole year,” said Army Sgt. Joseph Irenze, 72nd MP Co.

The Soldiers who patrolled the McCarran International Airport were the most visible to the public.

“This is the most hands-on, real-world law-and-order training we get,” said Army Staff Sgt. Jason Steele, 72nd MP Co. “We are out in the public and we get to shadow the police officers here in the airport seeing what they do. It makes for some great training for not only the Soldiers, but also the police officers get to work with us as well.”

The 17th Sustainment Brigade provided the command element and much of the support for the exercise, which focused primarily on liaison with the civil authorities and overall communications.

“Although the individual Soldiers are getting some excellent training at their level, it is our ability to plan and coordinate with our higher headquarters, subordinate command elements, civil authorities and civilian law enforcement that makes this a key exercise for the Nevada Guard,” Shultz said.

Shultz added that community exposure for the Soldiers provided vital training experience and interaction with the public.

“It is also our ability to plan, mass and execute with the resources and logistical assets we need to support our Soldiers out there in case we are called upon by civil authorities. That is where I see the largest piece of this exercise because very rarely do the staff level Soldiers get the opportunity to take part in training like this.”

Civilians appreciated the added security.

“We have a lot of people coming in for the celebration here and the National Guard Soldiers give everyone an added sense of security,” said Reshad James, a shopkeeper in the McCarran International Airport.

“I really like having the Soldiers patrolling through here,” James said.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Shane Mills, readiness non-commissioned officer for the 246th Transportation Battalion, Michigan National Guard, discusses U.S. Army fleet management documentation processes with vehicle drivers from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), April 17, 2025, at the RSLAF Joint Logistics Unit in the Murray Town district of Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Michigan-Sierra Leone Partnership Moves Ahead with Multidisciplinary Engagements
By Capt. Andrew Layton, | May 2, 2025
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – The partnership between the Michigan National Guard and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) took another step forward April 11-18 with three separate engagements conducted at various...

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle from the 159th Fighter Wing flies alongside a B-52H Stratofortress  during air-to-air integration training, April 29, 2025. The training enhanced interoperability between active-duty and Air National Guard aircrews, reinforcing their ability to operate as a cohesive force in complex airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Matthew Dougherty)
Louisiana Guard, Active Component Airmen Complete Air-to-Air Integration Training
By Senior Airman Seth Watson, | May 2, 2025
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - The 2nd Bomb Wing, assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command under Eighth Air Force, and the Louisiana National Guard's 159th Fighter Wing demonstrated enhanced interoperability and...

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, visits the 49th Missile Defense Battalion, Alaska National Guard, on Fort Greely, Alaska, April 28, 2025. Soldiers of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion operate and secure the ground-based midcourse defense system and are an integral piece of the homeland defense mission to protect the U.S. from intercontinental ballistic missiles using ground-based interceptors.
In Alaska, Nordhaus Sees National Guardsmen Defending the Homeland, Enabling Global Power Projection
By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely | May 1, 2025
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – From within Alaska’s vast Interior, Alaska National Guardsmen defend the homeland from long-range missile attacks and enable global power projection.Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, the chief of...