Capital Shield 2014: First Responders train in Nation's Capital

September 30, 2013
By Mr. George Markfelder (JFHQNCRMDW) 

Photo Credit: Mr. George Markfelder (JFHQNCRMDW) Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Paul Ruwe discusses the first day activities with mission leaders from the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, II Marine Expeditionary Force during the opening day of Capital Shield 14, at the Lorton Va. emergency training site, Sept. 30, 2013. The Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region is the coordinating agency of the training which features more than 38 participating organizations from DOD and Capital region response agencies. The organizations will perform mock mass casualty rescues, Defense Support to civil agency technical rescues and law enforcement tactical responses. The goal of the exercise is to ensure government agencies at every level are prepared to coordinate action to protect the public in the event of an actual disaster in the National Capital Region.

WASHINGTON (Sept. 30, 2013) -- Emergency vehicles and first responders are once again in action in the National Capital Region and will be thru Oct. 3. They are participating in "Capital Shield 2014."

CS 14 is a joint training exercise in the NCR that is hosted by the Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region. It brings federal, state, local and municipal agencies together to realistically test interagency operability during a crisis impacting the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. It also trains and prepares the Department of Defense to provide defense support to civil authorities and employ appropriate force protection measures as requested.

"Because we are all regional partners it's nice to be able to pick up the Phone and KNOW the other person on the end of the line when you are in need of some help," said Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Paul Ruwe. "It's a lesson learned from 9/11. We had good regional contact with the FBI Washington office, and that really helped after the attack on the Pentagon."

Ruwe is the Incident commander at the Lorton Training site, Lorton Va., and said the training site will be very busy over the next few days.

More than 38 participating agencies from DOD and Capital region response agencies will perform mock mass casualty rescues, Defense Support to civil agency technical rescues and law enforcement tactical responses. The goal of the exercise is to ensure government agencies at every level are prepared to coordinate action to protect the public in the event of an actual disaster in the National Capital Region.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Please visit the Capital Shield 2014 website at www.mdwhome.mdw.army.mil/capital-shield.

Photo Credit: Mr. George Markfelder (JFHQNCRMDW) • Chief Warrant Officer 4, Frank Pater, Battalion Senior CBRN Officer explains the days training events to role-playing "victims" at the Lorton Va. emergency training site, Sept. 30, 2013. The Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region is the coordinating agency of the training which features more than 38 participating organizations from DOD and Capital region response agencies. The organizations will perform mock mass casualty rescues, Defense Support to civil agency technical rescues and law enforcement tactical responses. The goal of the exercise is to ensure government agencies at every level are prepared to coordinate action to protect the public in the event of an actual disaster in the National Capital Region.

http://www.army.mil/article/112429/Capital_Shield_2014___First_Responders_train_in_Nation_s_Capital/

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From: http://www.mdwhome.mdw.army.mil/capital-shield

Capital Shield - Concept of Operation

Exercise CS14 will be comprised of multiple FTX and CPX events both linked and de-linked through a scenario which will be designed to focus on testing JFHQ-NCR/MDW subordinate units, MDW Installations, and Component Services as a JTF on OPLAN 3600 requirements of CBRN response, Tech Rescue operations, Mass Casualty treatment, stabilization, evacuation and DSCA.

Purpose

Validate JFHQ-NCR/MDW, Service Components, National Guard, JTF CAPMED, and Interagency Partners consequence management operation through a FTX and CPX focusing on Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) scenarios.

Objectives

• Annual Validation of OPLAN 3600 Emergency Preparedness in the NCR.
  
• Execute Command & Control with Subordinate Units, Subordinate Garrisons, Service Components, NG, CapMed and IA mission partners.
  
  
• Execute interagency interoperability, coordination, and situational awareness within the NCR.
  
  
• Validate JRC/JRSOI procedures with MDW Subordinates/Installations, Components Services/Installations.
  
  
• Validate BSI Capabilities for MDW Subordinate Installations  & Component Service Installations.
  
  

End State

JFHQ-NCR/MDW is prepared to conduct Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) and BSI operations.