Members of U.S. Army North and scores of federal, state, and local organizations converged on the Cranston Street Armory in Providence, R.I., this week in support of Ardent Sentry 07, a bi-lateral exercise that involves several agencies in the U.S.
The primary objective of the exercise is to give federal, state and local authorities the opportunity to work together in a simulated response to multiple disasters.
Army North’s Defense Coordinating Officer and Defense Coordinating Element from Region I were activated at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region I administrator to prepare for landfall of a notional storm, Hurricane Yvette.
DCO Colonel Frank Kosich deployed from Maynard, Mass., to link up with FEMA pre-designated Federal Coordinating Officer James “Nick” Russo at the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency in Cranston, RI.
“Army North works daily with federal and state planners to prepare for defense support of civil authorities missions,” said Kosich. “This training opportunity offers us the chance to exercise those plans with federal, state and local agencies.”
Kosich emphasized that Army North plays a supporting role in disaster response, and that all the command’s efforts support a lead federal agency working closely with state and local officials.
This exercise is designed to be challenging and complex, allowing all participants to challenge their people and resources and look at new options and solutions, Kosich said.
“This event is part of an ongoing cycle of training that prepares people to face real challenges,” he said. “Exercises like this provide an excellent opportunity for federal, state, and local agencies to review processes and techniques and to build stronger relationships.”
One new concept being tested during the exercise is that of prescripted mission assignments, predefined packages of DoD capabilities most commonly requested during a crisis.
Following real-world experiences during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and others, DoD developed the concept of prescripted mission assignments in an effort to reduce the time necessary to provide assistance in times of crisis, said Lt. Col. Michael Rowells, deputy defense coordinating officer for Region I.
“We looked at life-saving and life-sustaining capabilities that DoD possesses in areas such as ground transportation, airlift support and medical aid,” Rowells said. “We worked with FEMA to determine potential requirements and prepared the necessary paperwork in advance to make the requesting and approval processes more efficient.”
The prescripted mission assignments are being closely analyzed during the exercise and will be fully evaluated at the conclusion to see where things went well and where improvements can be made, Rowells said.
Army North is also employing some of its deployable communications technologies that allow responders at all levels to talk to one another regardless of the frequencies or type of equipment they are using.
Army North has 10 full-time defense coordinating officers supported by a defense coordinating element in each of FEMA’s 10 regions to improve coordination between the Defense Department and FEMA.
Ardent Sentry 2007 focuses primarily on Defense Support of Civil Authorities and takes place from April 30 to May 18.
(White is the PAO of the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.)