New Mexico Minuteman - Summer 2011 - Keep Trees

JOINT
AGENCY
TRAINING
By Sgt. Suzanna Dominguez, State Public Affairs NCO, JFHQ
The New Mexico National Guard hosted
a full scale multi agency training exercise
designed to test the readiness of local
emergency response agencies April 28,
2011, at a model home in northwest Rio
Rancho, 111th Brigade National Guard
armory, and the Field Maintenance Shop
building in Rio Rancho.
“The New Mexico Army National Guard
is required to conduct an annual antiterrorism
exercise that encompasses all aspects
of force protection plans which include antiterrorism,
physical security and operation
security areas,” said Bob Wilson, antiterrorism
program coordinator.
Agencies that participated in this
exercise included the New Mexico Army
National Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
New Mexico State Police, Bernalillo
County Sheriff, Rio Rancho Police Department,
Albuquerque Police Department,
and Sandoval County Communications.
The agencies coordinated for several
months of planning with Wilson to ensure
that all participants could maximize the
training and understand the capabilities of
all agencies. The exercise scenario was
initiated when an investigation was conducted
by the Joint Terrorism Task Force
about suspicious activity and suggested
that the FBI raid the house. They raided
the house and found anti-military literature
and bomb making materials. Witnesses
saw six armed personnel leave the house
prior to the raid and head toward the Rio
Rancho Readiness Center. Three armed
personnel parked their car outside of
the armory and entered the building and
proceeded to shoot any person that they
ran into. Another car parked outside the
FMS building and three armed personnel
entered the building and took hostages.
Several joint agency teams were tasked to
clear the armory. Explosive ordinance disposal
teams were tasked to make sure the
cars were clear of explosives. At the FMS
building, several agencies’ hostage negotiation
teams talked the perpetrators out of
the building.
“There have been numerous ‘active
shooter’ attacks all over the world,”
said Wilson. “High schools, malls, businesses
and military bases are just a few
of the places these types of attacks have
occurred. This could happen at any one
of the armories around the state and the
personnel that work inside these armories
need to be trained.”
The objective of the exercise was to
strengthen New Mexico’s Law enforcement
and fi rst response agencies’ ability
to respond to emergency situations and to
improve interagency coordination and communication.
The scenario gave local emergency
responders the opportunity to work
through a potential emergency situation.
“When the New Mexico National Guard
participates in these types of exercises,
we try to include as many federal, state,
and local law enforcement agencies as
possible,” said Wilson. “Interagency cooperation
during terrorist or criminal attack
is a must in ending any situation as soon
as possible and with the least amount of
casualties or damage to property. Every
time these types of exercises happen, all
agencies learn what could have been done
better. Standard Operating Procedures
and plans for all agencies are rewritten to
capture what was learned.”
Summer 2011 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 13