Search and Rescue Vigilant Guard 2016

Multiple units from the Army and Air National guard work to clear through the rubble to rescue victims during a training scenario during Vigilant Guard 2016 at Camp Johnson, Colchester, Vt., July 30, 2016. Vigilant Guard is a national level emergency response exercise, sponsored by the National Guard and NORTHCOM, which provides National Guard units an opportunity to improve cooperation and relationships with regional civilian, military, and federal partners in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Alderman)

CAMP JOHNSON, VT, UNITED STATES
07.30.2016
Photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Alderman
158th Fighter Wing

 (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Alderman)

 (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Alderman)

 (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Alderman)

 (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Alderman)

 (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Alderman)

 (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Alderman)

Damage Control Olympics

SILVERDALE, Wash. (July 22, 2016) - USS Nevada (SSBN 733) Sailors transport a casualty through a watertight hatch for the injured man relay event during the Naval Base Kitsap Damage Control Olympics, facilitated by Commander, Submarine Group Nine and its tenant commands. The competition is held at commands throughout the navy to test damage control, fire fighting and de-flooding, capabilities while builds companionship and moral among shipmates. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cory Asato/Released)

USS Seawolf (SSN 21) Sailors fire a hose into a hold to stimulate a self-contained breathing apparatus to fill a balloon with air until rupture for the nozzleman sniper event during the Naval Base Kitsap Damage Control Olympics, facilitated by Commander, Submarine Group Nine and its tenant commands. The competition is held at commands throughout the Navy to test damage control, fire fighting and de-flooding, capabilities while building camaraderie and morale among shipmates. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cory Asato/Released)

Machinist's Mate (Auxiliary) 1st Class Carl Karstetter (left), a Bremerton, Wash., native, and Machinist's Mate (Auxiliary) 2nd Class Mark Richardson (right), a Columbus, Ohio, native and both stationed aboard USS Seawolf (SSN 21), patch a pipe for the repair team (sink the Titanic) event during the Naval Base Kitsap Damage Control Olympics, facilitated by Commander, Submarine Group Nine and its tenant commands. The competition is held at commands throughout the Navy to test damage control, fire fighting and de-flooding, capabilities while building camaraderie and morale among shipmates. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cory Asato/Released)

USS Nevada (SSBN 733) Sailors transport a casualty through obstacles for the injured man relay event during the Naval Base Kitsap Damage Control Olympics, facilitated by Commander, Submarine Group Nine and its tenant commands. The competition is held at commands throughout the Navy to test damage control, fire fighting and de-flooding, capabilities while building camaraderie and morale among shipmates. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cory Asato/Released)

Missile Technician 3rd Class Malachi Lane, a Dillon, S.C. native stationed aboard USS Maine (SSBN 741), competes in the bucket brigade, simulation de-flooding aboard a submarine, during the Naval Base Kitsap Damage Control Olympics, facilitated by Commander, Submarine Group Nine and its tenant commands. The competition is held at commands throughout the Navy to test damage control, fire fighting and de-flooding, capabilities while building camaraderie and morale among shipmates. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cory Asato/Released)

USS Maine (SSBN 741) Sailors compete in the bucket brigade, simulating de-flooding aboard a submarine, during the Naval Base Kitsap Damage Control Olympics, facilitated by Commander, Submarine Group Nine and its tenant commands. The competition is held at commands throughout the Navy to test damage control, fire fighting and de-flooding, capabilities while building camaraderie and morale among shipmates. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cory Asato/Released)

Facilitators watch as USS Nevada (SSBN 733) compete in a tug-of-war, where each team pushes a blimp tied to a line to the other side with a hose, against USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) during the Naval Base Kitsap Damage Control Olympics, facilitated by Commander, Submarine Group Nine and its tenant commands. The competition is held at commands throughout the Navy to test damage control, fire fighting and de-flooding, capabilities while building camaraderie and morale among shipmates. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cory Asato/Released)

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Deployment

ARABIAN GULF (July 27, 2016) – Damage Controlman Fireman Dallas Perdue, from Wilmington, N.C., serializes self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) tanks in repair locker 7B aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike). Ike and its Carrier Strike Group are deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Joshua Murray/Released)

PERSIAN GULF

07.27.2016

Photo by Seaman Apprentice Joshua Murray 

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

USS Shoup (DDG 86) PACIFIC OCEAN

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 29, 2016) – Damage Controlman 3rd Class Erik Michel, assigned to Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86), walks to a safe area on the flight deck after securing from refueling an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter attached to the "Magicians" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 while conducting flight operations, during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Holly L. Herline)

PACIFIC OCEAN
07.29.2016
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class holly herline
Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet

 Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Aronn Odion, assigned to Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86), holds a fire hose while participating in a damage control fire drill, during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Holly L. Herline)

Joint USAR training.

Photo By Sgt. Heidi Kroll | Members of FEMA’s Massachusetts Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue, an Airman from the Royal Canadian Air Force, and Airman from the New York Air National Guard, lift a sked containing a simulated casulty during Vigilant Guard 2016, at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., July 29, 2016. Vigilant Guard is a national level emergency response exercise, sponsored by the National Guard and NORTHCOM, which provides National Guard units an opportunity to improve cooperation and relationships with regional civilian, military, and federal partners in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events.(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Heidi Kroll)

CAMP ETHAN ALLEN TRAINING SITE, VT, UNITED STATES
07.29.2016
Story by Sgt. Heidi Kroll
172nd Public Affairs Detachment

A simulated earthquake shook Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., July 29, 2016 as part of Vigilant Guard 2016. This resulted in several downed trees, as well as collapsed bridges and buildings, with individuals and simulated casualties located throughout the scenario. The scenario was set up to test title 10 forces, state, federal and local agencies, emergency responders and nine states with National Guard units.

As a result of the earthquake a house was submerged in water; the only way for the responders to gain entrance was through the roof, once inside they discovered an unconscious casualty.

A Canadian Airman teamed up with soldiers for the New York Air National firefighters, and Massachusetts Task Force 1 members to remove the unconscious individual from the building using a ladder to assist moving the sked back through the hole in the roof.

“It was a great to be able to combine our assets together to complete the mission,” said Sgt. Mark Lewis, team leader, 19th Wing Comox, Royal Canadian Air Force.

Firefighters with the Vermont Air National Guard 158th Fighter Wing worked with FEMA’s Vermont Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue. Members from both teams lined up with pry bars to lift; on the count of three the building was raised and two mannequins’ were recovered from underneath the collapsed building. FEMA’s Vermont Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue called in the air ambulance for a medevac to the hospital.

“This prepares us to work with all entities, local, federal and international to be more cohesive when the need arises,” said Rafael Goyenechea, medical specialist, FEMA’s New York Task Force 1.

There were additional situations all along the road to test the different agencies that were partaking in this lane. One individual was trapped in a culvert so that the search and rescue teams would have to work to extract the mannequin and provide medical aide as needed. Another situation had an individual trapped under a car, the Firefighters from the Vermont Air National Guard 158th Fighter Wing quickly dug under the car, and were able to extract the individual.

“The agencies on this lane handled everything we through at them, we are going to need to be more creative,” said Master Sgt. Michel Morin, range and utilities NCOIC, Garrison Support Command.

There were additional situations all along the road to test the different agencies that were partaking in this lane. Vigilant Guard 2016 is an exercise created to give the over 5000 participants from all of these organizations a training environment where they can train together and build relationships that will be a benefit in a real world situation.

Wendell Robery, K-9 specialist, with FEMA’s New York Task Force 1, Urban Search and Rescue leads members of his team in removing a simulated casulty during Vigilant Guard 2016 at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., July 29, 2016. Vigilant Guard is a national level emergency response exercise, sponsored by the National Guard and NORTHCOM, which provides National Guard units an opportunity to improve cooperation and relationships with regional civilian, military, and federal partners in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Heidi Kroll)

FEMA’s Vermont Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue clears a road to move two simulated patients to a landing zone for medical evacuation as part of Vigilant Guard 2016, at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., July 29, 2016. Vigilant Guard is a national level emergency response exercise, sponsored by the National Guard and NORTHCOM, which provides National Guard units an opportunity to improve cooperation and relationships with regional civilian, military, and federal partners in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events.(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Heidi Kroll)

Members of FEMA’s Vermont Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue and Firefighters from the 158th Fighter Wing, work together to rescue two simulated casulties trapped under a collapsed building during Vigilant Guard 2016, at Camp Ethan Allen training Site, Jericho, Vt., July 29, 2016. Vigilant Guard is a national level emergency response exercise, sponsored by the National Guard and NORTHCOM, which provides National Guard units an opportunity to improve cooperation and relationships with regional civilian, military, and federal partners in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events.(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Heidi Kroll)