GovGuam and Military to continue joint preparation with Ballistic Missile Defense Exercise

GHS/OCD Public Information Office: (671) 478-0208
JRM Public Affairs Office: (671) 349-4055

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense, Joint Region Marianas, U.S. Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base, and other local and federal strategic partners will participate in a Ballistic Missile Nuclear Detonation Command Post Exercise on April 24.

The exercise is one part of a concerted and ongoing One Guam effort between JRM and GHS/OCD and federal and local partners to increase readiness and cooperation in the event of crisis.

An earlier training conducted by Counterterrorism Operations Support – Center for Radiological/Nuclear Training instructors was held with Governor Eddie Calvo and other local and federal partners at the Sheraton Laguna Guam resort, April 11. 
 
The exercise is meant as a functional exercise to improve procedures and processes as well as increase collaboration among staff of incident commands, unified commands, Intel centers and other command centers in the event of a nuclear detonation.

“This joint exercise between the Department of Defense, local and federal agencies affords us the opportunity to enhance our collaborative preparedness and evaluate the processes we have in place in the event of a nuclear detonation,” said Joint Region Marianas commander, Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield. “Though our respective agencies have plans in place should an event occur, the ability to test our joint response benefits not just the military or local community, but the entire One Guam community.”

GHS/OCD echoed the importance of working with all stakeholders on the island.

“The focus of the exercise will be immediate command and control response after a nuclear detonation,” stated Homeland Security Advisor, George Charfauros. “Although the probability of a ballistic missile attack is small, it is important to exercise our all-hazards response and recovery plans. We look forward to the outcome of the exercise to identify shortfalls or gaps so we can address them prior to any real world events. Additionally, it is an excellent opportunity to work with all stakeholders, Government of Guam agencies, federal partners and military partners to understand and identify roles and responsibilities ahead of time.”

The end goal is to exercise immediate action drills, share information with partners, expand coordination and cooperation between the different participants and to establish recommendations for future preparedness exercises and efforts.

There will be no impact to the public as actionable items will be conducted from within respective agency operations centers and intelligence centers.

No alarms or public announcements will be made, and the only participants of the exercise are Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense, Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base with FEMA as an observer. Only command staff actions are actual; all other actions will be simulated.

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer, Jenna G. Blas at (671) 489-2540 or via email at jenna.g.blas@ghs.guam.gov or the JRM Public Affairs Office at (671) 349-4055 or via email at CJRMPAO@fe.navy.mil.