April proved to be a very busy month for the Applied Training Solutions teams as they supported VIBRANT RESPONSE 24, April 22-May 3 at Fort Carson, Colo., in addition to several other exercises.

VIBRANT RESPONSE is the certification exercise for the Defense CBRN Response Forces and the Command and Control CBRN Response Elements. U.S. Army North and U.S. Northern Command are the units the ATS team worked with during this event.

The primary scenario these forces responded to include a simulated 1000 kiloTon nuclear airburst above San Francisco. This also created simulations of catastrophic damage to downtown San Francisco, extending out and disrupting city services.

After a week of reacting to the explosion, the C2CRE teams also had to respond to a simulated power plant releasing radiological material, simulating shutting down power to central California.

The ATS team assisted the units in using ATSsim Training to replicate force flow and response, tracking of units, distribution, and consumption of different classes of supply, and sending reports across the Joint Operational Area.

Meanwhile, ATSsim Media was used to replicate what public and media sentiment would be to these events and their consequential events. This allowed commanders and operational personnel to get realistic pictures of the information environment and develop responses from the appropriate organizations.

The DCRF and C2CRE units were able to successfully train and effectively respond as Federal Department of Defense assets in support of a local catastrophic event in the United States.

As a leader in emergency preparedness training and readiness, ATS continues to actively work to deliver innovative, experience-based disaster-preparedness exercise solutions for local, state, and federal agencies to protect communities. Preparation for disasters helps reduce panic and possible loss of life. Utilizing simulation helps these units prepare for managing multiple units during a real-life event.