On August 4, NORAD and NORTHCOM officials will brief media on the commands’ upcoming exercises taking place August 5-10, 2004. Officials will explain the exercises, participants, and overall objectives for Determined Promise 04 and Amalgam Virgo 04.
AV04 will evaluate NORAD in both live-fly and simulated exercises with a focus on air piracy, airborne terrorism, and cruise missile/ unmanned aerial vehicle defense. AV04 activities will take place in eastern and western Canada, Oregon, Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico/ Florida panhandle.
DP04 will test USNORTHCOM’s ability to assist civil and federal authorities in a coordinated response to simulated chemical, radiological, and explosive hazards, conducted in California and Virginia.
The exercises will involve more than 4,000 Canadian and U.S. military personnel in three U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. The Virginia National Guard, under control of Governor Mark Warner, will deploy 303 personnel to the Hampton Roads/ Norfolk area. The California National Guard, under the control of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, will deploy 52 personnel to the Los Angeles, Ventura County and San Diego area.
Media interested in attending should arrive at Peterson’s North gate no later than 0800 on August 4. Contact Lt. Joel Harper at 719-554-4072 to coordinate escort.