Aug. 29, 2006

USNORTHCOM prepared to support Ernesto operations

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Ernesto’s progress and is prepared to respond to requests for support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a result of this storm.Senior USNORTHCOM officials are coordinating with FEMA, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and

Aug. 29, 2006

From Falluja to forest fires: AAFES goes where the troops go

DALLAS – True to its motto, “We go where you go,” the Army and Air Force Exchange Service has mobilized its next-generation Tactical Field Exchange (TFE) in support of some 550 active-duty Soldiers helping control wildfires burning across Washington’s Okanogan and Wenatchee national forests. “AAFES has pulled off another superb operation in record

Aug. 28, 2006

USNORTHCOM takes action following Hurricane Katrina

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – When Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast one year ago, U.S. Northern Command responded by supporting civil authorities with the insertion of tens of thousands of military personnel, search and rescue missions, humanitarian operations and delivery of water, food, ice and first aid supplies.Building on

Aug. 25, 2006

USNORTHCOM hosts work group for pandemic influenza planning

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – As more and more birds carry avian influenza to new areas of the globe, planning for a potential global pandemic continues to build at hundreds of federal, state and local agencies. Pressure is increasing for these agencies to develop comprehensive operations should pandemic flu strike.How does a multitude of

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