Aug. 24, 2006

U.S. Army North supports wildfire fighting efforts

When all the nation’s wildland firefighting ground crews have been committed, the National Interagency Fire Center turns to the military.This year, the Army got the call, and U.S. Army North deployed a small element of personnel to NIFC in Boise, Idaho, to help manage military ground support. The mission of the command’s Defense Coordinating

Aug. 24, 2006

Agriculture secretary thanks firefighting Soldiers

BOISE, Idaho – Soldiers battling the 125,000 acre fire near Winthrop, Wash., received recognition Aug. 22 from Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.The secretary praised the efforts of Task Force Blaze, a 550-Soldier battalion from Fort Lewis, Wash., that has been fighting the fire since Aug. 17. “I just want to say to the Soldiers how much we

Aug. 19, 2006

Soldiers put fire training into action

Soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., assigned to Task Force Blaze put their wildland firefighting training into action for the first time Aug. 19 by taking on the wildfires burning in the state of Washington.Following three days of classroom and field instruction from experienced wildland firefighters, the Soldiers were ready to face the flames.“Guys

Aug. 19, 2006

USNORTHCOM-NORAD seminar focuses on shoulder-launched missile threat to aircraft

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command sponsored a scenario-driven seminar Aug. 15 to further remedy the potential threat posed to aircraft by terrorists with shoulder-launched missiles. More than 100 air security experts from 20 government and private entities discussed the

Aug. 17, 2006

Fort Lewis Soldiers prepared to fight Washington fire

Soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., assigned to Task Force Blaze completed two days of intensive, hands-on training Aug. 16 to help fight wildland forest fires.The National Interagency Fire Center brought in professional wildland firefighters from across the country to train Soldiers on the fundamentals of controlling forest fires.The Soldiers learned

Aug. 17, 2006

JTF-CS hones response with exercise challenges

FORT MONROE, Va. – The scenario could be one of your darkest nightmares: a madman driven by an anti-American zealotry has shattered the peace of a major U.S. city. His weapon of choice? An aerosolized form of Y. Pestis bacteria, better known in medieval times as plague, and he has let it loose on America. Welcome to Sudden Response 2006.At Fort

Aug. 16, 2006

Soldiers respond to forest fire

More than 500 Soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., have responded to the National Interagency Fire Center’s request for military assistance in battling forest fires in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Winthrop, Wash. The lightning-caused fire has burned more than 83,000 acres.Units comprising Task Force Blaze include 1st Battalion, 38th

Aug. 11, 2006

U.S. Northern Command assists with wildland firefighting efforts in Washington

PETERSON AFB, Colo. – United States Northern Command is preparing to deploy more than 500 active-duty U.S. Army soldiers to the Tripod Complex fire in Washington State to assist with firefighting activities. Upon approval from the Secretary of Defense, the soldiers from Ft Lewis, Wash., are expected to arrive at the fire early next week. This

Aug. 10, 2006

Military Firefighting Assistance Statement from National Interagency Fire Center

• Military personnel and equipment are used when national civilian resources are committed to on-going fires or on standby for initial attack and there is the need for further resources. This level of commitment is typically reached when the National Preparedness Level is at 5. NIFC went to Preparedness Level 5 on July 28.• Military resources are

Aug. 10, 2006

USNORTHCOM and NORAD remain vigilant in light of UK activity

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command officials are monitoring the situation following today’s arrest in the United Kingdom of several suspects in a plot to blow up airliners bound for the United States.Senior USNORTHCOM and NORAD officials were notified and began coordinating with

Aug. 4, 2006

USNORTHCOM hosts Business Executives for National Security

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – United States Northern Command leaders met Aug. 2 with members of the Business Response Task Force, a newly formed group of the Business Executives for National Security.BENS is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., formed to harness successful business models from the private

July 27, 2006

Command Senior Enlisted Leaders visit NORAD AND USNORTHCOM

Forty-two Keystone Fellows visited North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) July 24 to learn about the operational, training and legal challenges involved in the homeland defense and civil support missions.“Our number one strategic objective in the national defense strategy is to defend the

July 26, 2006

DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS NORAD AND USNORTHCOM

Dept. of Homeland Security Chief of Staff Mr. John Wood and Dept. of Homeland Security Senior Military Advisor Rear Adm. Daniel B. Lloyd traveled here July 21 to formally announce the selection of Mr. William Brundage as the Senior Dept. of Homeland Security Advisor to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern

July 21, 2006

USNORTHCOM and National Guard leaders discuss homeland security issues

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –The Homeland Security Committee of the Adjutants General Association of the United States (AGAUS) met July 18 with the leadership of United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) to discuss homeland security collaborative efforts and support of civil authorities after a man-made or natural disaster.“This conference is

July 21, 2006

NORAD-USNORTHCOM community provides fire victims with new home

“Daddy, I want to go home.”Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Hernandez was speechless when his 2-year-old daughter spoke these words July 6, for this time the Hernandez family had no home to return to following an early morning house fire.“We lost everything,” Hernandez said. “I’m just glad we all got out safe … everything else can be replaced.”And