WASHINGTON -- RFK Stadium was abuzz as Army helicopters flew low over the northwest region of the Nation's Capital, Sept. 23.
These helicopters, from the U.S. Army Air Operations Group (AAOG), were not providing a fly-over for a sporting event; they were providing support to Capital Shield 15, an emergency preparedness exercise hosted by Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region from Sept. 22-26.
"Joint exercises such as Capital Shield provide a unique training opportunity to develop interagency communication and cooperation," said Cory Wright, JFHQ-NCR exercise director. "When requested, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region provides support to our federal, state and local government agencies as part of a 'whole of community' concept to provide security, save lives, prevent human suffering, and mitigate collateral damage."
Along with RFK, the former Lorton Youth Detention Center in Lorton, Va., was also used as members from more than 40 federal and non-federal agencies participated in the exercise focusing on mass casualty rescues in collapsed structures and a toxic substance release.
"We are continually involved in a host of various training events and exercises with our partners in the NCR that allow us to improve and refine our capabilities," said Wright. "Working together builds the trust necessary for effective communication and interoperability as demonstrated by our ability to assist civilian agencies and federal partners."
The exercise is designed to test and evaluate joint operations, techniques, procedures, and command and control relationships, and enhance interoperability among the Department of Defense and interagency partners. The goal of the exercise is to ensure that government agencies at every level are prepared to take coordinated action to protect the public in the event of an actual emergency caused by either natural or man-made disasters inside the National Capital Region.
AAOG's 911th Technical Rescue Engineer Company also participated in the exercise. The 911th is the only unit of its kind in the U.S. Army and is comprised of combat engineers trained in technical rescue tasks, specializing in rescue techniques for victims trapped in collapsed buildings.
"It is essential for us to rehearse in advance and to build those relationships so we can get it right when called upon," said Col. Timothy D. Brown, AAOG commander.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Paul Ruwe was the incident commander at the Lorton Va. training site and said one of the primary goals of the training is to ensure first responders know how to talk to each other during an actual emergency.
"Knowing the capabilities of the many federal, state and municipal first responders in the region is something you need to know before an incident happens, not the day it happens," said Ruwe. "Capital Shield is the largest training exercise we participate in within the National Capital Region and it gives the organizations not only a chance to practice their skills but to also learn things from their peers on other teams."
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