Vigilant Guard 2020
The N.D. National Guard (NDNG) partnered with several civilian agencies state-wide in a joint exercise called Vigilant Guard 2020. The exercise was conducted August 3 - 6 in areas across the state. The NDNG regularly conducts emergency response exercise scenarios to help develop, validate, and refine plans and capabilities. These exercises ensure the NDNG is ready to support real-world disaster and emergency operations for our state and communities. When ordered by the governor in response to requests through the N.D. Department of Emergency Services, the NDNG is the first military responder during a natural disaster or emergency within the state. Top photo: Pvt. Seth Horn, 188th Engineer Company, removes tree limbs that are blocking rescue access to a simulated victim during exercise Vigilant Guard 2020 at Golden Lake on Aug. 5, 2020. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Chief Master Sgt. David H Lipp)
Vigilant Guard - Dual Status Command Summit
The N.D. National Guard began the Vigilant Guard 2020 exercise with a Dual Status Commander (DSC) summit with senior leaders. The goal of the summit was to ensure all members understood the DSC purpose, design, limitations and implementation. The summit was led by officers certified as DSCs, Brig. Gen. Leo Ryan, Army commander for the N.D. National Guard and Col. Rob Fugere, G-3 operations and training officer. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Vigilant Guard- Cyber Security Exercise
Soldiers and Airmen of the N.D. National Guard, the N.D. Information Technology Department, MDU Resources Group, and the N.D. Department of Emergency Services partnered in a Cyber Response exercise on Aug. 4, 2020, at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck, N.D. The Guard cyber warriors assisted MDU Resources Group in a simulated cyber incident. (National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Ashley Johls, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Vigilant Guard- CBRNE Exercise
The 119th Wing emergency management personnel teamed up with members of the N.D. National Guard 81st Civil Support Team for a hazardous material detection exercise as part of exercise Vigilant Guard 2020. The exercise was conducted on Aug. 4, 2020 at the Air National Guard Base in Fargo. (U.S. Air National Guard story and photos by Chief Master Sgt. David H Lipp)
Vigilant Guard Fire Rescue Exercise
The N.D. National Guard partnered with several local agencies in Steele County, N.D. to exercise search and fire rescue operations. The exercise was conducted at the Golden Lake Recreation Area and Resort on August 5, 2020. Participating agencies were the Steele County Sheriff's Office, Steele County Emergency Management, Grand Forks County Sheriff's Office, Hatton Fire Protection District, Traill County Sheriff’s Department, Traill County Emergency Management and Finley Fire District. (U.S. Air National Guard story and photos by Chief Master Sgt. David H Lipp)
Sgt. 1st Class Benji Boll, 188th Engineer Company, discusses search and rescue plans with Jason Sletten, assistant fire chief for Hatton, N.D. at Golden Lake Recreation Area and Resort, in Steele County on August 5.
Sgt. 1st Class Benji Boll operates a front end loader as Staff Sgt. Jeremy Knudson, both of the 188th Engineer Company, assist in clearing branches during a search and rescue exercise at Golden Lake on August 5.
Staff Sgt. Kerry Thompson, a combat medic with the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, assists Hatton, N.D. firefighters with search and rescue during exercise Vigilant Guard 2020 at Golden Lake on August 5.
Vigilant Guard Water Search and Rescue
The morning of August 5, 2020, the N.D. National Guard partnered with the Morton County Sheriff’s Office and Morton County Emergency Management at the Crown Butte Dam near Mandan, N.D. Soldiers of the 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge) assisted civil authorities with a water search and rescue after a simulated levee breech. (U.S. Army National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Ashley Johlfs, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Soldiers of the 957th Engineer Company unload a Zodiac inflatable raft at Crown Butte Dam in preparation of a water search and rescue exercise with Morton County authorities on August 5.
Soldiers of the 957th Engineer Company retrieve a casualty mannequin from Crown Butte Dam during search and rescue exercise with the Morton County Sheriff's Department on August 5.
Vigilant Guard Wrap-up
North Dakota's Vigilant Guard 2020 exercise concluded on August 6, 2020 at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck, N.D. with an AAR (After Action Review) that was attended by senior leaders to include the adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, and deputy adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber. An AAR is a structured review process to review and analyze events in order to capture lessons learned and to identify areas that need improvement. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Fire Training in Fargo
The 119th Civil Engineer Squadron conducted firefighter training at the N.D. Air National Guard Base in Fargo on August 2, 2020. Training included responding to a simulated fire alarm while people try to distract the firefighters. The smoke is created by a fog machine for the purpose of realistic training as the firefighters enter the building to search for simulated victims. (U.S. Air National Guard story and photos by Chief Master Sgt. David H Lipp)
Firefighters of the 119th Wing respond to an exercise alarm during unit training assembly at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo on August 2.
Staff Sgt. Tyler Wangler holds a fire hose as he arrives at the scene of a simulated fire during a training exercise at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo on August 2.
Forklift Training
The N.D. Air National Guard's 119th Civil Engineer Squadron gathered for their first unit training assembly since March on August 1 and 2, 2020. Airmen practiced their forklift operating skills.
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