Fort Bragg troops prepare for domestic disaster (nuclear)

ABC ^ | Nicole Carr

[Sir Gawain]

Friday, August 21, 2015 06:32PM

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) --

The notice came overnight: Get ready to respond to a nuclear disaster situation in Southwest Florida. Be ready to deploy for a week.

So early Friday morning, more than 300 20th Engineer Brigade soldiers prepped convoys. Over the next five days they will join more than 400 additional troops in an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise.

The 18th Airborne Corps soldiers have a focus.

"We're specially trained and equipped for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards," said Colonel Jayson C. Gilberti, the Brigade's commander.

While the soldiers may be called on domestic or foreign disasters, this exercise is about the home front, and how to handle a situation that's overwhelming to local and state officials.

"It's absolutely essential to ensure trained and ready forces," Gilberti said. "I don't believe we're never 'not ready.' You can never be ready enough."



Gilberti knows about that call all too well. He was among the local soldiers who deployed to Louisiana ten years ago, in response to Hurricane Katrina.

"It's about Americans helping Americans," Gilberti said. "And there's no greater feeling or rewarding, whether you're wearing this uniform as a part of the active Corps, the Guard or the Reserve-it's one team as we're helping one another out."

"The outpouring of support that we received down in Katrina....if this were to happen in America (again), whether it be in Sandy or some sort of other natural disaster, it's just a tremendous good feeling to help Americans out," he continued.

Among the 600 soldiers involved in this joint exercise, there are units from Fort Gordon and Fort Stewart, G.A., as well as Fort Hood, Texas.

[Psalm 73]

They may be training for a S. Florida event, but doubtful it's needed there.
More likely San Diego, maybe Denver.

[Safrguns]

And in other news....

Over 50 of N. Korea’s 95 subs have been deployed and we don’t know where they are.

[GreyFriar]

Psalm, this is hurricane season. Where to a lot of hurricanes like to hit? FLORIDA! Thus this training exercise makes sense to me, sending troops where a disaster is likely (historically) to happen.

[Steve_Seattle]

Is this a routine drill, or a deployment in response to a perceived, actual threat?

[Psalm 73]

I understand, but this isn't just any unit.
This unit is: "...specially trained and equipped for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards,"

Sooner or later we will get hit, and they won't be going after the south Florida beach crowd.

[Tallguy]

Theyre picking a “disaster exercise” site within a reasonable radius from Bragg, itself. Kind of like an NFL pre-season game :) Eagle - Jets anyone (Yawn).

[Tallguy]

Are you suggesting a Nork conventional sub is going to sail undetected all the way across the North Pacific without

A) being detected,

B) having an unfortunate meeting with an LA class fast attack,

or

C) just flat out breaking down and needing a tow?

[Safrguns]

>>> Are you suggesting a Nork conventional sub is going to sail undetected all the way across the North Pacific without...

I’m pointing out the obvious in reference to the alert:

A) Nork dictator is crazy enough to try

B) He has threatened to do so on multiple occasions

C) They have hacked us enough to know a lot more about our defenses than we give them credit for.

D) If I were him, that’s what I would do.... Just like Japan did... take the fight to the enemies home soil.

They learned it from us.