During the last week of March, Applied Training Solutions assisted U.S. Army Garrison Fort Moore to validate their training on their Installation Management Command core capabilities during Maneuver Challenge 2024.
This exercise simulated a tornado touching down on Fort Moore, causing damage and scattering debris across the Installation. The ATS team led this exercise by providing exercise planning, design, control, support, simulation services, and simulation cell management.
Three days prior to the start of the exercise, the Installation sent out simulated messaging from the National Weather Service indicating inclement weather, then led the scenario into the possibility of tornado activity. The exercise began with a tornado watch message and the simulated tornado ‘touching down’ soon afterwards.
This Full-Scale Exercise was implemented in conjunction with a Black Start Exercise, which simulates the power being out in several places on the Installation, without the availability of backup generators and other secondary resources. The Department of Public Works and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the installation had to respond accordingly.
The purpose of the exercise was to test and evaluate the Installation’s ability to identify, respond, and recover from natural threats against its infrastructure, facilities, and personnel that caused damage to the Installation, mass casualties, and fatalities. The exercise also tested the Installation’s ability to coordinate with local agencies during response and recovery efforts, while continuing to provide Mission Assurance and community resilience operations to the installation.
ATS supported the exercise with simulated weather messaging, the production of simulated social media, simulated damage pictures to paint a realistic picture for first responders, while leading and supporting White Cell execution. The team employed various products to provide a realistic representation of events which enhanced the execution of the exercise design that allowed the Installation to effectively test their plans, policies, and procedures.
These simulated events resulted in the triage, treatment, and evacuation of the injured and the initiation of fatality management operations. This also led to the activation of the Installation Emergency Operations Center, Emergency Family Assistance Center (EFAC), and Mutual Aid Agreements; the employment of first responder assets (Law Enforcement, Fire, medical and DPW); conducting damage assessment operations; and addressing casualty and fatality management operations.
This successful, yet complex exercise challenged USAG Fort Moore’s ability to synthesize information received from a variety of live and simulated sources; synchronize network, communications, power, and emergency management efforts amongst its tenant organizations, local external partners, and senior leadership. It also provided USAG Fort Moore the opportunity to test and validate employment of alternate communications methods such as Land Mobile Radio and FIRSTNET between the Installation, local external partner agencies, and higher headquarters.
As a leader in emergency preparedness training and readiness, ATS continues to actively work to deliver innovative, experience-based disaster-preparedness exercises solutions for local, state, and federal agencies to protect communities.
