Maryland Defense Force Joins National Guard for Major Homeland Security/Terrorist Response Exercise

摘要

The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) joined the National Guard (NG) for Exercise Vigilant Guard, a major homeland security/terrorist response exercise held in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC during the week ending 7 September, 2007. Vigilant Guard is a National Guard Bureau sponsored series of national and regional exercises designed to enhance the preparedness of National Guard forces in performing their role as the first military responder in all domestic emergencies. The State of Maryland's military participation in Vigilant Guard involved the Maryland NG Joint Force Headquarters, Maryland Joint Task Force, and operational units from all four agencies of the Maryland Military Department: the Maryland Army National Guard (MDARNG), the Maryland Air National Guard (MDANG), the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), and the MDDF. Participating agencies also included the Virginia NG and Department of Emergency Management, the District of Columbia NG and Emergency Management Agency, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, elements of the North Carolina NG, and county and municipal first responders from across the three jurisdictions. The exercise followed a simulated terrorist attack scenario which unfolded over the course of the three-day exercise. The first two days were played out on computer screens and communication equipment in the Command Post Exercise at the Joint Operations Center at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Maryland, primarily testing the Maryland NG's ability to coordinate and interoperate with other state and local agencies. MDDF provided personnel from its 10th Medical Regiment as well as legal, chaplain, operations, communications, and public affairs personnel from its mission-oriented units.