Service and Support - to both TRADOC and FORSCOM alike

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Hundreds of Soldiers from the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade lined Constitution Avenue Friday with their military vehicles and cargo in anticipation of the upcoming field training exercise Vibrant Response scheduled for March 11-20.

Vibrant Response is part of a U.S. Army North agenda to validate the readiness of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high yield Explosives Consequence Management Response Force (CCMRF) elements to conduct operations in support of State and local emergency responders in the event of a real-world domestic attack requiring federal assistance.

This important mission is supported installation-wide from the U.S. Army Installation Management Command and Fort Leonard Wood Garrison Command to the 94th Engineer Battalion whose task is to facilitate the large-scale exercise deployment to Camp Atterbury and the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana.

"The entire 103rd Engineer Company is acting as the pusher unit by running the container loading area, the equipment line haul area, and the convoy staging area," said Lt. Col. Jeff Anderson, the 94th Engineer Battalion commander. "The flow of equipment and personnel out of Fort Leonard Wood has been very efficient thanks to brigade coordination and installation assistance."

Several installation agencies are contributing both time and resources toward the large-density push.

According to a Fort Leonard Wood Garrison Command Emergency Operations Center representative, the installation has ensured coordination for the blocking and bracing of key equipment, vehicle inspections, additional ground transportation, convoy clearance and escort services.

"It has taken months to prepare for this deployment and our hard work has paid off," said Joe Rapone, the director of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. "We take great pride in being a multi-faceted installation capable of training the best and brightest and then ensuring they can get to wherever the Nation calls them."

"This is truly the essence of our job," he added.