Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Sheldon | Sgt. 1st Class Jonah L. Tenorio, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the Field Maintenance...... read more read more
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KALAELOA, Hawaii – Members of the Hawaii Army National Guard Quick Reaction Force team conducted quarterly training here June 26, 2015.
The QRF is an element of the Hawaii Army National Guard that must deploy within a moment’s notice to assist with natural disasters in the State of Hawaii, as well as, assist civil authorities with traffic control and securing critical infrastructure such as a power plant.
“The job of the QRF is to respond to multiple situations that may arise in the State of Hawaii on behalf of the governor,” said Warrant Officer Carlvin Xavier, commander of the HIARNG QRF. “We are the first responders for the Hawaii Army National Guard for any mission put forth from the adjutant general and the governor of Hawaii.”
The HIARNG QRF has participated in past events such as assisting TSA with airport security after 9/11, assisting with security for foreign dignitaries when they visit the islands. They work side-by-side with civil services such as Honolulu Police Department, as well as pulling security for the 93rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Service Team.
“Today’s training is part of an quarterly training requirement,” said Xavier. “We are required to be trained quarterly for certification.”
The HIARNG Soldiers that make up the QRF team are all full-time technicians from the field maintenance shop (FMS) or the unit training equipment site (UTES).
“The reason why we use full-time technicians is because they are already working together during the week,” said Xavier. “The response time would be a lot quicker to task a full-time technician rather than pulling an Inactive Duty Training Soldier away from his civilian job.”
Funding restrictions limits training without the most current training equipment, but WO1 Xavier doesn’t let that dampen his spirit.
“While not having the new equipment doesn’t greatly affect our training efforts, it greatly limits our capabilities in any mission we are tasked, said Xavier. “For example, if we don’t have the non-lethal training aids we won’t be able to assist anyone should they request a riot control team.”
Although Xavier is in a new role as the commander of the HIARNG QRF he feels ready and strong for his new role and responsibility.
“I am the commander for the QRF and I am responsible for training, organization and the mission capabilities of the QRF,” said Xavier. “I feel very excited to be the commander of the QRF for the Hawaii Army National Guard. It’s a new experience and takes me out of my maintenance comfort zone to interact with different Soldiers as well as local civil and law enforcement authorities.”
The U.S. Virgin Island native and former U.S. Marine wants to make sure his team can be counted on when the call comes.
“My goal for the QRF is to make sure we are trained to the standards of the National Guard,” said Xavier. “I want to make sure we meet the tasks given from the TAG and the governor and perform those tasks to the best of our ability.”
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2015 18:42 |
| Story ID: | 168547 |
| Location: | KALAELOA, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 310 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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