Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 North Dakota National Guard, local civilian first responders react during no-notice training exercise By North Dakota National Guard
 FARGO, N.D. - The call came in to the North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department. A civilian cargo transport plane had crashed, spewing its contents before bursting into flames. Firefighters from various agencies responded and once the fire was out, a hazardous materials team arrived in response to hazardous cargo listed on the flight manifest. In the meantime, the North Dakota National Guard's 81st Civil Support Team was activated from its Bismarck location. The plane crash, burning wreckage and hazardous cargo weren't real. Rather, it was all part of a no-notice training exercise at the North Dakota Air Guard's Regional Training Site here that brought together civilian first responders and members of the North Dakota Guard to test their skills, as well as their abilities to work side-by-side, in response to a potential threat. "We need to know what the civilian hazmat procedures are, what their equipment is, and how it operates," said Maj. Lila Teunissen, with the 81st CST, who helped coordinate the response. "They need to know what assets we have. We have a lot of commercial, off-the-shelf different types of equipment that will detect things the standard hazmat team cannot. We are also a good back-reach resource; we don't necessarily have to come on scene to help out. This is one of those times where we are trying to put all the pieces together, to see what resources they've got, to see what resources we have, and see how quickly we can identify what's out there." As an exercise coordinator Teunissen knew what would play out in the scenario, but for others involved the call came as a surprise. It's part of regular real-world type training scenarios the teams use to test and refine their response, said Teunissen. "Neither (team) knew the debris field was going to be out there, so it was surprising," said Joe Svir, a firefighter with the Fargo-Morehead Fire Department, about the situation he encountered. Even as the simulated radioactive elements were being discovered near the burned jet at the training site, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were on the way from Bismarck loaded with equipment and personnel ready to respond. All of that combined to add to the realism of the exercise. "I think we should do this all the time," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Miller, a firefighter with the 119th Wing. "Because, if an incident does happen, it's not just going to be us (responding). It's not just going to be Fargo Fire (department). It's not just going to be Moorhead Fire (department). We are all going to be working together as a team. As much of this training as we can get, I think we should do it within our resource capabilities." The exercise took most of the day, giving Guard members and first responders a chance to get to know each other's capabilities. The exercise ended with a firefighter simulating a heat stroke and a review of the events from which everyone could learn and make adjustments. "It's a lot of fun," miller said. "They have the same viewpoints, the same ideal that we do as firefighters. They're all great guys out here. (I) love working with them and getting to meet them. We don't get a lot of opportunity to work with Fargo Fire or Moorhead Fire, so the big thing is getting to know the guys, getting to work with them and seeing how their attitudes are. It was awesome. Anytime they want me to work with them again, sign me up."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Idaho National Guard Opens Child Care Center
 By Crystal Farris,
  After 80th D-Day Commemoration, Hokanson Looks to Future
 By Army Master Sgt. Jim Greenhill and Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely,
  Pennsylvania Guard, Lithuania Strengthen Partnership
 By Staff Sgt. Zoe Wockenfuss,
  More
 Idaho National Guard Opens Child Care Center Guard News • 11 hours ago
 After 80th D-Day Commemoration, Hokanson Looks to Future Guard News • 2 days ago
 106th Rescue Wing Conducts Comprehensive Rescue Training Guard News • 3 days ago
 Oregon Air Guard Security Forces Squadron Trains in Hawai'i Guard News • 3 days ago
 Alaska Air Guard Rescue Triad Conducts Water Rescue Training Guard News • 4 days ago
 2024 (180)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil