FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa.– More than 50 members of both the Pennsylvania Air and Army National Guard supported an emergency preparedness training event alongside active duty military members and civilian partners May 1-6.
Vibrant Response 2016 is a simulated disaster scenario. The scenario is designed to test military and civilian responders' reactions to a nuclear explosion in a highly populated area using computer simulations. Exercise Vibrant Response 2016 hosted by U.S. Northern Command and its active duty Army component, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army).
"In the event something like this would happen, we would expect the vast majority of the Pennsylvania National Guard would be placed on state active duty to assist. The Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen would be executing missions as directed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Due to the scale of this disaster, it's likely a dual-status commander would be appointed," said Brig. Gen. Wilbur Wolf, director of the joint staff for the Pennsylvania National Guard.
The dual-status commander is used in large or complex disasters or national special security events such as the World Meeting of Families or the Democratic National Convention. This officer is able to command both the activated National Guard troops who are under their Governor's control in Title 32 status, as well as the active duty troops and reservists who are Title 10, under the control of the President. The first dual-status commander was implemented in 2004, and was a Georgia National Guard officer. A Pennsylvania National Guard officer was appointed as a dual-status commander during the World Meeting of Families and Papal visit in October 2015, and earlier in 2008 for the G-20 Pittsburgh Summit.
In this scenario the Pennsylvania National Guard was able to work closely with their civilian counterparts. The experience that proved rewarding for both parties.
"While this was an exercise, it's important we take lessons we've learned forward," said Wolf. "This was a great opportunity to work with our partners at PEMA, FEMA, as well as Title 10 military and other agencies."
Shane Woodmancy, an emergency management specialist with Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency's operations planning division, who worked with the Pennsylvania National Guard for the exercise, agreed. "This was an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with our largest partner in the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania National Guard. Working together to develop a common operating picture is key to all parties' success."
Founded in 1747, the Pennsylvania National Guard is comprised of nearly 20,000 Soldiers and Airmen in more than 90 communities across the Commonwealth.