Two commands join forces during terror exercises

  • Published
  • By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Beverly K. Allen
  • North American Aerospace Defense Command/U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  It was a nightmare worst-case scenario, but that is what U.S. Northern Command officials had intended for "Determined Promise '04."

The exercise, which ran Aug. 5 to 10, was designed to test NORTHCOM's ability to respond to multiple, simultaneous homeland-defense and federal-relief efforts.

This year's exercise was combined with North American Aerospace Defense Command's Amalgam Virgo '04, a binational, multiagency air-security exercise. The simulated attacks came from land, sea and air.

Scenarios in Virginia involved the simulated release of the nerve agent sarin and mustard gas, as well as tunnel and bridge explosions and the crash of a truck hauling chlorine. Other targets were unmanned aerial vehicles launched from an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, and multiple airliners with terrorists on board headed for Portland, Ore., and Ottawa.

The exercise also involved numerous incidents in California, including the simulated detonation of a "dirty bomb" in a Los Angeles harbor, derailment of a train loaded with hazardous chemicals in Ventura County, and business jets swarming over San Diego in preparation for attack.

From Virginia to California and Florida to Canada, the exercise tested the capabilities of the commands’ and other local, state and federal agencies, said Marine Col. Gene Pino, NORAD and USNORTHCOM director of training and exercises.

"We are at war with a smart, thinking enemy, and we must continue to stay just as smart and think just as hard about these events as they do. When we stop doing that, I think that's when we'll be in danger," he said.

Colonel Pino said that every exercise scenario was built on a strong intelligence platform to test the synchronization and sharing of information from local to national levels to ensure "we are poised to engage a threat."

More than 60 agencies, including local first-responders, and state and federal emergency services, participated in the exercise, along with the Defense Department.

"The exercise was an extraordinary success, improving the seamless interaction of these agencies," said Army Lt. Gen. Joseph R. Inge, NORTHCOM's deputy commander. "From intelligence gathering and sharing to consequence management, America is much safer today from the terrorist threat due to the all-out effort of each and every participant in this massive exercise.”

The exercise was the fifth semiannual training session for the commands since the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001.

NORAD is a binational Canadian and American command responsible for the air defense of North America. It has jet fighters on alert throughout North America, supported by air-to-air refueling tankers, airborne and ground-based radar, surveillance systems and satellites. The command officially began operations on May 12, 1958, to defend the airspace of the United States and Canada from long-range Soviet bombers. NORAD's mission continues to evolve to protect the citizens of the United States and Canada.

NORTHCOM has a two-fold mission: homeland defense and civil support. Specifically, it conducts operations to deter, prevent and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories and interests within the assigned area of responsibility. Also, as directed by the president or secretary of defense, the command provides military assistance to civil authorities, including consequence management operations, to help mitigate crisis situations. (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)