Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Ames | Maj. Gen. David C. Wood, 38th Infantry Division commanding general, answers questions...... read more read more
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - More than 200 38th Infantry Division citizen-soldiers wrapped up their training in the six-day Vibrant Response exercise at Camp Atterbury, Tuesday.
The Division Commander, Maj. Gen. David C. Wood, said the Cyclone Division soldiers are training in their ability to command and control in the event of a major disaster in the United States.
In this year’s Vibrant Response exercise, the disaster was a nuclear detonation in a major city.
“We will command a multicomponent force which will consist of active-duty soldiers, United States Army reserve soldiers, Army National Guard soldiers, all working together as one team to be effective to responding to this disaster,” said Wood.
The training was for a real-world mission – to respond to an actual radiological, biological, or chemical attack – will begin in June.
“We have the mission for one year to be prepared to move out within 96 hours and respond in a supporting role to local and state officials and assisting them in saving lives and minimizing suffering,” said Wood.
The 38th soldiers spent several days at the Joint Simulation Training Exercise Center at the southern Indiana post, which is about 10 miles north of Columbus, Indiana.
“It’s going very well,” said Maj. Andrew Weaver, 38th Infantry Division chief of operations. “Any time you have a training event, you have clear expectations and goals and at this point we have met our goals.”
During the exercise, the Cyclone Division command staff coordinated missions for more than 2,000 personnel.
“It’s the most important mission we can do, we just hope we are never called to do it, “said Weaver. “I served in Katrina and that small window was one of the most rewarding times of my life because we are truly helping Americans.”
During the disaster-response mission, the division will be known as Task Force 38, and will be accompanied by units from other states including Michigan, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Texas and South Carolina.
“I went out and visited the commands, and I know the soldiers are all fired up about what they learned,” said Command Sgt. Maj. James Martin, the 38th ID’s senior-enlisted advisor. “I know they are ready if this unfortunate mission were to come up. We are ready to go.”
| Date Taken: | 04.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2015 12:42 |
| Story ID: | 161785 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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