Oct. 17, 2008

Defense Coordinating Officer, Element deploy for Hurricane Omar

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – A United States Army North defense coordinating officer deployed Oct. 15 from New York City to the Virgin Islands as part of the federal team to assist with a possible federal response to Hurricane Omar. Col. Robert Freehill will serve as the Department of Defense representative on the ground to coordinate requests for

Oct. 16, 2008

Sanchez, Litchfield recognized for excellence in mentoring

Senior Master Sgt. Steven Sanchez and Cmdr. Charles Litchfield were recognized recently for their efforts to coordinate a mentorship program involving members of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command and two local high schools.Tasked with the execution of the commands’ mentorship program, Sanchez enlisted Litchfield’s

Oct. 7, 2008

NORAD, USNORTHCOM recognize NORAD’s heritage

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – International cooperation has made North American Aerospace Defense Command an unparalleled success, an example of ways in which the militaries of two nations can work together for the mutual benefit of both nations.  In recognition of 50 years of such cooperation, Gen. Gene Renuart, commander of NORAD and U.S.

Sept. 30, 2008

Canada-U.S. conference focuses on situational awareness, maritime and border security

It is necessary to work together “to defeat any threat that comes into North America,” said the commander of Canada’s Joint Task Force Atlantic and Maritime Forces Atlantic at the second annual Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) Northern Border Conference at Canadian Forces Base Halifax in Nova Scotia.Maritime security is vital to the economic

Sept. 30, 2008

U.S. Northern Command gains dedicated response force

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- For the first time in its existence, U.S. Northern Command is gaining a dedicated force to respond to potential chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive (CBRNE) incidents in the homeland."We are now building the first of three CBRNE Consequence Management Response Forces," said

Sept. 29, 2008

USNORTHCOM wraps up support for trio of hurricanes

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – After providing assets from helicopters to high-water trucks to ships to chaplains, U.S. Northern Command is wrapping up several weeks of contingency operations for this summer and fall’s recent trio of hurricanes that struck the Gulf and East Coast.“One of the last pieces of Department of Defense support that was

Sept. 19, 2008

Units assigned to CCMRF gain insights for new response mission

FORT STEWART, Ga. – The exercise scenario was a sobering one: a 10-kiloton nuclear device detonated in America’s heartland, quickly overwhelming civilian responders.Military leaders who recently trained for this response say they are now thinking differently about how to move equipment, extract the injured and take care of people following this

Sept. 19, 2008

Military airborne imagery supported immediate hurricane recovery efforts

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Video and still imagery provided by military aircraft after Hurricane Ike struck the Gulf Coast gave responders on the ground their first look at affected areas in Texas and Louisiana.At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command provided a variety of aircraft to gather photos and

Sept. 18, 2008

NORAD and USNORTHCOM official response to final GAO Report on the Integrated Command Center

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Gen. Gene Renuart, made the following public statement today: “Today, I provided an update to the House Armed Services Committee in a closed-door session about the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Command Center consolidation located at

Sept. 15, 2008

Top Army leader visits newly assigned consequence management force

FORT STEWART, Ga. — Troops who are soon to be part of a federal military consequence management force drilled on their new response mission here Sunday under the attentive eye of the Army’s senior-ranking general. Gen. George Casey watched, listened and asked questions as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines walked through how they might fly

Sept. 14, 2008

U.S. Northern Command continues response to Hurricane Ike’s aftermath

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command is coordinating Department of Defense support to FEMA, state and local response following Hurricane Ike’s landfall in Texas.The following is a list of DoD assets and personnel that are part of U.S. Northern Command’s support efforts:NEW OPERATIONS: USNORTHCOM, through Air Forces Northern,

Sept. 14, 2008

Special Boat Operators ready to respond to Hurricane Ike relief efforts

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Nearly 50 Naval Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) from Special Boat Team 22 and the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS) are standing by with eight Patrol Boats Light (PBL) at England Air Force Base to assist as called upon to perform search and rescue or clean-up

Sept. 14, 2008

Air Cav. sends relief in response of Hurricane Ike aftermath

FORT HOOD, Texas – Pilots and crew chiefs loaded up two CH-47F Chinook helicopters with food, water and supplies in an effort to lessen the strain caused by Hurricane Ike.By mid-morning the twin-rotor helos from 2nd “Lobo” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry “Warrior” Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, took off from Hood Army Air Field,

Sept. 13, 2008

23rd Wing deploys rescue forces for Hurricane Ike response

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN)  -- As Hurricane Ike approached the Texas coast, the 23rd Wing began moving units on Sept. 11 to pre-stage for rapid rescue relief operations. The 23rd Wing is the only active-duty combat search and rescue wing in the Air Force. Units from the wing's two rescue groups, the 347th Rescue Group here and the 563rd RQG

Sept. 13, 2008

Rescue personnel fly first flights from Randolph

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN)  -- Three HH-60 Pave Hawks and aircrews belonging to the 331st Air Expeditionary Group took off from here earlier the afternoon of Sept. 13 carrying search and rescue personnel to the Galveston, Texas, area in the wake of Hurricane Ike. The flight marks the first of many that may leave from Randolph Air Force