Massachusetts National Guard Civil Support Team Enters Vigilant Guard

LOCKPORT, NY (11/04/2009)(readMedia)-- Exercise Vigilant Guard, simulating a major earthquake in the Niagara Falls region of New York, entered day 3 on Tuesday Nov. 3, with the Massachusetts National Guard's 1st Civil Support Team training here, while New York Army National Guard air ambulance helicopters and medics simulated evacuating casualties from a destroyed hospital to Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in North Tonawanda.

Meanwhile, members of New York Air National Security Squadrons deployed to Buffalo-Niagara International Airport to simulate assisting civil authorities in keeping order in a post-disaster environment. While federal law prohibits Active Duty troops from conducting police duties without a declaration of martial law, National Guard forces can always assist local police at the direction of the governor.

Photos are Below:

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Photo by Pvt. 1st Class Jeremy Bratt, Joint Forces Headquarters--New York

Lockport,NY--Members of the Massachusetts National Guard's 1st Civil Support Team move into action on Tuesday, Nov. 3, during Exercise Vigilant Guard, being held here Nov. 1-5. From left Sgt. 1st Class Michael Kleinebreil, Sgt. First Class Maddox Aubrey, and Sgt. James Kivleham move into a former General Motors building replicating a contaminated office building. The Massachusetts Guardsmen, who are specially trained to detect hazardous materials and special weapons, are among 1,300 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, and the U.S. Virgin Island who are participating in the exercise, which simulates a major earthquake in the Niagara Falls area.

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Photo by Pvt. 1st Class Jeremy Bratt, Joint Forces Headquarters--New York

Buffalo Niagara International Airport-- New York Air National Guard Airman 1stClass Kevin Rech, of the 174th Fighter Wing, and Staff Sgt. Josh Nichter, of the 107th Airlift Wing, join Niagara Frontier Transit Authority Police Officer Ed Carney to provide security at the airport. The members of the Air National Guard security forces, who are normally tasked to defend bases around the world, deployed to the airport to simulate assisting civil authorities in maintaining order in the wake of a disaster.

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Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Petibone, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade

FIREMANS PARK Tonawanda, NY -- Sgt. James Wunders and Sgt. Casey Harris, medics from the 466th Area Medical Support Company transfer one of four simulated wounded personnel from a ground evacuation vehicle to a UH-60 Air Ambulance Helicopter flown by the 249th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) at Fireman's Park on Nov. 3 as part of the Vigilant Guard exercise. The wounded personnel evacuated were found at a simulated "rubble pile" nearby as a result of a collapsed hospital caused a simulated earthquake near the Buffalo area.

Posted Tuesday November 03, 2009 at 06:05 pm by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Thursday August 26, 2010 at 09:29 am