Fort Bragg Validates Readiness During Annual Exercise

Fort Bragg held its anti-terrorism and force protection training exercise, Orbit Comet, on July 17-18.

Orbit Comet is designed to test Fort Bragg's chain of command and first
responders to a variety of terrorism and force protection threats. First responders include Fort Bragg's provost marshal, Criminal Investigation
Division, Fort Bragg's fire and EMS departments, Womack Army medical center
and Directorate of Information Management.

"The fact that we are conducting this exercise is not intended to cause
alarm," said Tom McCollum, with Fort Bragg's Public Affairs Office. "Rather, the goal is to instill a sense of confidence in the public that we are training to prevent terrorism and, if necessary, that we are ready to respond and recover from all hazards."

The Emergency Operation Center (EOC), that controls all the assets had all of Fort Bragg's nine directorates under one roof to provide input to the annual hazard event ensuring communication was taking place and was understood across the board.

"We do risk assessment for the 22 hazards identified at Fort Bragg," said Kurt Lugo, Disaster Preparedness Manager for Fort Bragg. "We evaluate what is the most probable thing that will happen and then we train against them."

Emergency operations have identified these possible scenarios that could be considered emergencies at Fort Bragg and different ones are selected and tested on a monthly basis.

During the two-day exercise, the EOC served as the hub evaluating how Fort Bragg would monitor, communicate and act during an emergency.

Around 60 role players, to include four dogs, were coordinated to present unexpected challenges that mirrored the real time exercise, showing the command and leadership where changes need to be made but in most cases, reflected the readiness when such incidents arose. 

At the Dahl Physical Fitness Center a shelter that could accommodate 105 people filled with role players, acting as displaced individuals affected by the scenario. The volunteer soldiers signed in and were provided lunch and shown to their numbered cot inside the gymnasium and played out their assigned role.

During the exercise, five disaster shelter kits were set up, four for personnel and one for pets.

"The shelters were implemented as a one year plan after the tornado," said Andy Fischer. "The shelters are not just used during poor weather conditions, we could put up a housing area temporarily if needed."

The other shelter kits around Fort Bragg include Ritz-Epps, accommodating 210 people, Pope and Funk can house 105 people at each location.

Fisher shared the next feasible step is looking into setting up inside the middle schools since they have ideal space and facilities to include a cafeteria, restrooms and areas to set aside for special needs children.

"After Katrina it became law that you had to be able to take care of pets," said Fischer. "We've got the ability (at Dahl) to take care of 25 pets, we can also request mobile pet shelters from the surrounding counties through the North Carolina Emergency Management Office."

Alongside Fort Bragg organizations, state and federal assets and representatives from Cumberland, Moore, Hoke and Harnett counties participated in Orbit Comet because when disaster strikes it reaches beyond the borders of Fort Bragg.

Carl Stall, the Deputy for the Directorate of Human Resources (DHR) and his team of 183 employees, plus 11 at the Casualty Assistance Center, who oversee real world events, when mass casualties are expected standing up an emergency assistance center. In support of the families connected to the disaster situation, DHR also spearheads the training of casualty assistance officers and are responsible for the next-of-kin notification process.

Another portion of their behind-the-scenes responsibility includes establishing and activating a 1-800 telephone number where families outside of the disaster area can call and find out information about the situation and personnel.

"It's been a learning experience this week," said Stall. "We are doing many things well, but can always improve on the communications end with the civilian agencies."