Story Category: Defense »

On Nov. 5 - Nov. 7, the Maryland National Guard conducted a three day multi-agency training exercise called Vigilant Guard.

The scenario was a simulated mass casualty incident from an explosion at a chemical production facility.

Located adjacent to the Baltimore City Fire Academy, the training area contained a specially designed rock pile to provide a realistic look and feel of a building collapse from an explosion.

Working with first responders, Guard members performed extrication, triage and treatment of role players acting as victims—complete with special effects make-up to simulate various injuries— injured by the explosion.

A-10Cs from the Maryland Air National Guard provided airborne reconnaissance to emergency responders on the ground and members of the Maryland National Guard 32nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction provided analysis and assessment of the simulated chemical or biological hazards that may be present. This unit can enhance and supplement the capabilities of local hazardous materials response teams.

The training exercise involved more than 2,000 personnel from units in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and West Virginia.