Virginia Defense Force conducts statewide readiness exercise

By Cotton Puryear, Virginia National Guard Public Affairs OfficeOctober 25, 2021

A member of the Virginia Defense Force trains on a high-frequency radio Oct. 2, 2021, in Warrenton, Virginia, during Highland Guardian 21. HG 21 is a statewide readiness exercise to test the VDF’s ability to respond in an emergency. (Virginia Defense Force photo by Lt. Col. Cotton Puryear)
A member of the Virginia Defense Force trains on a high-frequency radio Oct. 2, 2021, in Warrenton, Virginia, during Highland Guardian 21. HG 21 is a statewide readiness exercise to test the VDF’s ability to respond in an emergency. (Virginia Defense Force photo by Lt. Col. Cotton Puryear) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WARRENTON, Va. – Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted the Highland Guardian 21 field training exercise at multiple locations across Virginia to test their ability to respond to emergencies in the state.

The exercise Oct. 2, 2021, simulated a severe winter storm and how the VDF would support the Virginia National Guard's role as a member of the state multi-agency response team.

"The Virginia Defense Force schedules robust and realistic training opportunities, and they keep improving their skills and experience with each exercise," said Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the adjutant general of Virginia. "I continue to be tremendously impressed by their volunteer spirit and willingness to give their time to assist their fellow Virginians in times of need, and we count on them to be a key part in the overall response capabilities of the Virginia National Guard."

The VDF has established a battle rhythm of two major scenario-based exercises each year, with Highland Guardian serving as the annual fall exercise, said Brig. Gen. Justin Carlitti Sr., the VDF commanding general.

"Building on successes from previous exercises, VDF personnel deployed across the commonwealth and continued to demonstrate increased levels of confidence in their abilities to utilize their various systems in new ways to enable effective mission control," he said.

Carlitti visited training in Warrenton and said the common theme with the personnel at the location was continued improvement in all aspects of the exercise to simulate a response in support of civil authorities.

"The focus of this year's Highland Guardian was to use the scenario events to give unit leaders at all levels the opportunity to respond to emerging events as they might occur in a widespread disaster," said Col. Robin Phillips, VDF operations officer. "Units at all of our armories across the commonwealth were involved in this long-distance emergency communications exercise, and I am 100 percent confident we can communicate in a real emergency, and our people know what they need to do. The Highland Guardian exercise was highly successful, and it will continue to be a highlight of our training calendar going forward."

As part of the exercise, VDF personnel in Cedar Bluff, Fairfax, Lynchburg, Richmond, Warrenton, Winchester and Virginia Beach communicated by high-frequency radio and shared exercise message traffic. The VDF's Communication Battalion, Support Operations Group, deployed its mobile communication platforms in Richmond, Lynchburg and Warrenton, and the companies of the 1st Regiment provided high-frequency radio, incident management assistance and access control teams at their home station VNG armories.

Lt. Col. Philip R. Smith, the Highland Guardian exercise director and acting commander of the Support Operations Group, said the VDF fielded four mobile communication platform teams, seven incident management assistance teams, seven access control teams, six high-frequency radio teams and six regional liaison officers during the exercise.

"This year's exercise further demonstrated the VDF's ability to effectively use and communicate using all of our mission-related communications assets and platforms to support a comprehensive statewide exercise," Smith said.

All VDF communication systems were used, including high-frequency radio voice and data and the Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System, he said.

Smith said six VDF personnel acted as role players and evaluators to enhance the training value for access control teams by presenting various problems and scenarios the teams may encounter during a response, then providing immediate feedback.

In addition to monitoring their communications systems to maintain situational awareness during the exercise, VDF personnel had several other tasks, including familiarization with the VNG's National Guard Civil Support playbook and consideration of advance planning and preparations like route planning and logistical resupply in the case of an actual event.

The VDF MCP is a trailer equipped with multiple radio systems for voice and data communications. Using an MCP, members of the VDF can communicate across a variety of radio spectrums with emergency response and public safety organizations and amateur radio operators. In severe weather like hurricanes or heavy snow, where traditional communication systems could become disrupted, the VDF MCPs would provide a vital communications capability for the VNG.

For more National Guard news

National Guard Facebook

National Guard Twitter