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NEWS | Aug. 6, 2021

ARNORTH to participate in Vigilant Guard, test response capabilities during exercises

U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) Public Affairs

U.S. Army North, U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Force Land Component Command, will participate in a series of full-scale, all-hazard disaster response exercises known as Vigilant Guard. This exercise is sponsored by U.S. Northern Command and the National Guard Bureau and will take place across the Southeast region of the United States Aug. 5-Sept. 3, 2021.

“Vigilant Guard is an opportunity to provide realistic disaster training, which will prepare participants to integrate in a whole-of-government approach so they are able to rapidly respond to natural and man-made disasters,” said Brig. Gen. William Prendergast, the Task Force 51 commander with U.S. Army North.
 
As U.S. Army North’s scalable, deployable command post, Task Force 51 conducts Defense Support of Civil Authorities activities during local, state and federal disasters. They most recently provided command and control of DoD forces during the whole-of-government COVID-response mission.
 
In addition to participating in Vigilant Guard, personnel will also participate in a subset exercise called Vibrant Response. This civil-military exercise helps military first responders unify their efforts to support civilian authorities during a simulated state or national emergency response.
 
Both Vigilant Guard and Vibrant Response exercises will involve Soldiers and civilians from the National Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. Transportation Command, under the guidance of U.S. Northern Command.
 
By bringing these different Department of Defense and civilian agencies together we ensure we are collectively better prepared to support disaster response and recovery efforts.
 
“Vigilant Guard provides a unique opportunity for every single person who has a hand in hazard or disaster response,” said Capt. Gabriel Noriega, Task Force 51’s logistics deputy. “They’ll better understand how to work together, understand the capabilities we can provide and in what manner we operate, so we can synchronize efforts during these types of responses.”