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Vigilant Guard: Colorado National Guard kicks off training exercise

By Staff Sgt. Nicole Manzanares, Joint Task Force-Centennial Public Affairs / Published July 24, 2013

El Paso County Search and Rescue K-9 Tucker watches as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter he is in takes off for an exercise search and rescue mission for a simulated crashed aircraft at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. Springs, Colo. during a Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)
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El Paso County Search and Rescue K-9 Tucker watches as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter he is in takes off for an exercise search and rescue mission for a simulated crashed aircraft at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. Springs, Colo. during a Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)

El Paso County Search and Rescue K-9 Tucker watches as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter he is in takes off for an exercise search and rescue mission for a simulated crashed aircraft at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. Springs, Colo. during a Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)
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El Paso County Search and Rescue K-9 Tucker watches as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter he is in takes off for an exercise search and rescue mission for a simulated crashed aircraft at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. Springs, Colo. during a Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Brady, (right) decontamination readiness noncommissioned officer with the 115th Maintenance Company, Utah National Guard, assists emergency room nurses at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital with decontaminating a mock victim during a natural-disaster training scenario decontamination exercise, at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colo., July 23, 2013, as part of the 2013 Vigilant Guard exercise. Vigilant Guard, hosted by the Colorado National Guard, is a large-scale, multi-state, multi-agency exercise focused on inter-agency coordination in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events in Colorado. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Zach Sheely)
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Brady, (right) decontamination readiness noncommissioned officer with the 115th Maintenance Company, Utah National Guard, assists emergency room nurses at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital with decontaminating a mock victim during a natural-disaster training scenario decontamination exercise, at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colo., July 23, 2013, as part of the 2013 Vigilant Guard exercise. Vigilant Guard, hosted by the Colorado National Guard, is a large-scale, multi-state, multi-agency exercise focused on inter-agency coordination in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events in Colorado. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Zach Sheely)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Brady, (right) decontamination readiness noncommissioned officer with the 115th Maintenance Company, Utah National Guard, assists emergency room nurses at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital with decontaminating a mock victim during a natural-disaster training scenario decontamination exercise, at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colo., July 23, 2013, as part of the 2013 Vigilant Guard exercise. Vigilant Guard, hosted by the Colorado National Guard, is a large-scale, multi-state, multi-agency exercise focused on inter-agency coordination in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events in Colorado. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Zach Sheely)
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Brady, (right) decontamination readiness noncommissioned officer with the 115th Maintenance Company, Utah National Guard, assists emergency room nurses at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital with decontaminating a mock victim during a natural-disaster training scenario decontamination exercise, at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colo., July 23, 2013, as part of the 2013 Vigilant Guard exercise. Vigilant Guard, hosted by the Colorado National Guard, is a large-scale, multi-state, multi-agency exercise focused on inter-agency coordination in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events in Colorado. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Zach Sheely)

Colorado National Guardsmen Army Staff Sgt. Steve Russ and Sgt. Robert Chavez from the 8th Civil Support Team dispose hazardous material they found when they conducted a search and decontamination due to a notional F4 tornado that tore through the Bonfils Blood Center in Denver during the Vigilant Guard Exercise July 23. Vigilant Guard is an exercise focused on preparing for domestic emergencies and catastrophic events through interagency coordination.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Nicole Manzanares)
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Colorado National Guardsmen Army Staff Sgt. Steve Russ and Sgt. Robert Chavez from the 8th Civil Support Team dispose hazardous material they found when they conducted a search and decontamination due to a notional F4 tornado that tore through the Bonfils Blood Center in Denver during the Vigilant Guard Exercise July 23. Vigilant Guard is an exercise focused on preparing for domestic emergencies and catastrophic events through interagency coordination.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Nicole Manzanares)

Colorado National Guardsmen Army Staff Sgt. Steve Russ and Sgt. Robert Chavez from the 8th Civil Support Team dispose hazardous material they found when they conducted a search and decontamination due to a notional F4 tornado that tore through the Bonfils Blood Center in Denver during the Vigilant Guard Exercise July 23. Vigilant Guard is an exercise focused on preparing for domestic emergencies and catastrophic events through interagency coordination.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Nicole Manzanares)
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Colorado National Guardsmen Army Staff Sgt. Steve Russ and Sgt. Robert Chavez from the 8th Civil Support Team dispose hazardous material they found when they conducted a search and decontamination due to a notional F4 tornado that tore through the Bonfils Blood Center in Denver during the Vigilant Guard Exercise July 23. Vigilant Guard is an exercise focused on preparing for domestic emergencies and catastrophic events through interagency coordination.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Nicole Manzanares)

El Paso County Search and Rescue member Eric Babcock (left) talks with fellow team members Patty Baxter (right) and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Wimmer, 1157th Engineer Firefighting Company, Colorado National Guard, while performing a simulated search and rescue mission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colo. Springs, Colo., during a Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)
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El Paso County Search and Rescue member Eric Babcock (left) talks with fellow team members Patty Baxter (right) and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Wimmer, 1157th Engineer Firefighting Company, Colorado National Guard, while performing a simulated search and rescue mission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colo. Springs, Colo., during a Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)

El Paso County Search and Rescue member Eric Babcock (left) talks with fellow team members Patty Baxter (right) and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Wimmer, 1157th Engineer Firefighting Company, Colorado National Guard, while performing a simulated search and rescue mission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colo. Springs, Colo., during a Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)
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El Paso County Search and Rescue member Eric Babcock (left) talks with fellow team members Patty Baxter (right) and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Wimmer, 1157th Engineer Firefighting Company, Colorado National Guard, while performing a simulated search and rescue mission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colo. Springs, Colo., during a Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)

El Paso County Search and Rescue members Eric Babcock (left), Sam Saucedo, and Patty Baxter review a map during a simulated search and rescue mission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colo. Springs, Colo., during the Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)
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El Paso County Search and Rescue members Eric Babcock (left), Sam Saucedo, and Patty Baxter review a map during a simulated search and rescue mission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colo. Springs, Colo., during the Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)

El Paso County Search and Rescue members Eric Babcock (left), Sam Saucedo, and Patty Baxter review a map during a simulated search and rescue mission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colo. Springs, Colo., during the Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)
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El Paso County Search and Rescue members Eric Babcock (left), Sam Saucedo, and Patty Baxter review a map during a simulated search and rescue mission at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colo. Springs, Colo., during the Vigilant Guard exercise, July 22, 2013. The Vigilant Guard exercise is a weeklong exercise full of scenarios based on wildfires, tornadoes, air craft accidents, hazmat response, search and rescue, triage, medevac and other emergency-response measures. The training and experience gained from this exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf)

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Colorado National Guard's aviation units and fire rescue teams, as well as the Douglas County Incident Management Team and the El Paso County Search and Rescue Team, kicked off a major training exercise July 22 by responding to a notional downed aircraft.

Vigilant Guard, as the exercise was named, has been in the planning stages since 2011 and was kicked off in the still dark hours of the morning by a scenario of a military aircraft crashing in a field at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., while flying over a wildfire.

"This is invaluable training," said Lt. Chad Edwards, the El Paso County Search and Rescue team's lead coordinator. Edwards added that working alongside other agencies - military and civilian alike - is always a great training opportunity.

The mission was to locate the aircraft, provide on-scene medical care to the dozens of "injured" role players and rapidly transport them to the nearest military medical facility. Together, the agencies combed the area, searched the perimeter of the crash site and provided aid to survivors.

Additionally as part of the exercise, K-9 units were sent out with the search and rescue teams to search for the simulated injured players.

"It's always great to work with the dogs because they are more sensitive to everything that is going on, and they can drive us in the right direction - as long as you trust the dog," Edwards said.

Edwards also emphasized the importance of using these training events to get used to working with and becoming familiar with other agencies.

"You don't want to swap business cards at a real incident. Now is the time to get to know names and faces," he added.