FORT EUSTIS, Va. (June 17, 2009) -- Fort Eustis conducted its annual anti-terrorism exercise Vigilant Spear 2009 June 11 at Eustis' 3rd Port. The annual installation-wide exercise provides an opportunity for units and activities to put force protection procedures and mass casualty measures into effect and challenges the installation's response to and management of a terrorist event.
This year's exercise simulated an attack of Landing Support Vessel Gen. Frank S. Bessom Jr.
Although the event centered at Eustis, members of the Hampton Roads Emergency Management Committee from Gloucester, Hampton, James City County, Newport News, Poquoson and York County also participated in the exercise, providing fire and emergency services. Eustis and the local municipalities deployed three fire chiefs and more than 20 emergency vehicles and equipment, including three fire engines and one ladder truck, nine ambulances, two rescue trucks, one hazardous material truck and trailer, one fire boat, one HazMat duty boat and one incident commander trailer.
More than 20 Eustis activities and units actively participated in the exercise as well as the Fort Story Garrison command and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, which provided an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.
Participating Eustis agencies include the installation fire department; the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security; Criminal Investigation Division; Provost Marshals Office; and the Directorate of Human Resources, which implemented the Casualty Assistance/Mortuary Affairs Plan.
The 7th Sustainment Brigade also provided resources to include 20 Soldiers to act as role players and a noncommissioned officer in charge, transportation for the role players, and the LSV and the barge derrick crane.
The exercise also required the implementation and activation of the 8th Transportation Brigade Security Zone and Crisis Management Plan. Because the simulated attack caused an environmental incident, a hazardous material team responded to the incident and provided clean up of hazardous materials.
McDonald Army Health Center deployed a Medical Installation Support (Trauma) Team to provide medical assistance to "victims" of the attack.
Soldiers and Military Working Dogs from the 221st Military Police Detachment also took part providing initial emergency response to the attack and three K-9 teams that inspected the port for hidden explosives and secured the area following the evacuation of personnel and casualties.
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