The Indiana National Guard’s Muscatatuck Training Center plans to host the annual federal emergency response exercise, “Guardian Response,” from April 15 to May 5.
The exercise aka (GR23) provides realistic disaster response training to sharpen the skills and increase the capabilities of U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers along with other state and federal assets, according to a news release from Master Sgt. Bradley A. Staggs.
Staggs, the public affairs for the center, said the exercise features realistic venues and civilian role-players to simulate a demanding disaster environment under the guidance and direction of the task force commander. Muscatatuck will represent that disaster area while role-players, many from the local community who come back year after year to participate, will create a realistic scenario.
More than 5,000 military personnel will be converging on Muscatatuck Training Center during this exercise, giving temporary jobs to local civilians to act as role players. The exercise will bring money into the North Vernon community as the 78th Training Division has rented property at the North Vernon Airport and Jennings County Fairgrounds to place personnel who are responding to the notional emergency.