The Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Radford, Virginia, recently conducted a successful Community Preparedness Exercise on April 24 and 25.
The annual exercise is a different scenario each year, and this year's exercise had two separate events. The reason for a two-day event was to keep the training situations manageable and to ensure Emergency Management and Force Protection could concentrate on their separate but equal sectors.
The emphasis on April 24 was an active shooter at the 2,800 acre New River Unit, Dublin Facility that involved members of the Army, BAE Systems (the operating contractor), law enforcement from the Virginia State Police, the Christiansburg Police Department Rapid Response Division, the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department, and the Virginia Department of Health (both the New River Health District and Community Services - Counseling for the Family Assistance Center).
In the first day's exercise scenario, two individuals overpowered two guards; shooting one and knocking the other unconscious. The culprits took a vehicle and drove onto the property armed with various weapons as they tried to escape a recent robbery in the town of Dublin. The guard recovered and called RFAAP Security Dispatch, reporting the incident and giving a description of the shooters and the vehicle.
In the course of the training exercise, six officers received simulated non-fatal gunshot wounds before apprehending the culprits. These injuries also tested the local Emergency Medical Services system in Pulaski County.
The training was beneficial for the state/local agencies and RFAAP personnel. Comments regarding communications and community outreach were exceptional. One deputy stated, "I have been with the Sheriff's Department 17 years, and this is my first time on this Dublin property. I must say that I have trained at the main plant many times and know that property very well. We need to do this type of training here more often, because this scenario is a real-time event in the world we live in today."
The second portion of the exercise was a Mass Causality and Hazardous Materials drill at the main plant on April 25. This scenario involved an accidental release of Nitric Acid. Members of the Army, BAE Systems, local first responders, local hospitals and community services came together to practice and hone their skills. Responses to these various scenarios are key to the success of communication, protocol and reaction time during an actual emergency.
This year, the participants included the Virginia Department of Health (both the New River Health District and Community Services - Counseling for the Family Assistance Center), the Fairlawn Volunteer Fire Department, Riner Volunteer EMS, the Lewis Gale Montgomery County and the Lewis Gale Pulaski Hospitals and the Carilion New River Medical Center. The drill tested many facets of emergency response in the New River Valley. The exercise involved more than 75 participants over the two-day event.
The April 25 exercise involved 12 casualties, which tested the capabilities of the local emergency rooms and local EMS. The large quantity of Nitric Acid helped the Emergency Operations Center train with various details involving environmental reportable quantities, personnel accountability, and environmental stewardship which involved possible ground and water contamination.
The exercise did show a need to improve communication with the hospitals, EMS and local fire departments. The installation and the community are currently working on a path forward to resolve these concerns.
The Radford Army Ammunition Plant, managed by the Joint Munitions Command, provides America's Warfighters with superior performing propellants, energetics and munitions when required to enable engagement and destruction of targets with total confidence. JMC produces small-, medium- and large-caliber ammunition items for the Department of Defense. JMC is the logistics integrator for life-cycle management of ammunition and provides a global presence of technical support to U.S. combat units wherever they are stationed or deployed. JMC's logistics operation is unique to the Department of Defense and its industrial base is an important asset in providing ammunition for the Warfighter.
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