WHO: New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers and helicopters               working with local authorities in a external DECON                              (decontamination) training exercise

WHAT: Operation “Wipe Down II”

WHEN: Sunday, November 20 at 9:30 a.m. for briefing Exercise begins

             at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Morris County Transfer Station, Gold Mine Rd.,

               Mount Olive Twp.

DETAILS: Fifteen New Jersey Army National Guard Aviation personnel and four rotary wing aircraft (Three OH -58 Kiowa and UH-1 Huey helicopters) will participate in the training exercise with the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority; Mount Olive Police Department and township employees; Budd Lake Fire Department; Flanders Fire Department and Budd Lake First Aid Squad.

     The DECON exercise will address all three components of NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) threats. Guard personnel from the Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) #1 and Security and Support Company (S/S) located at the Trenton-Mercer Airport will be utilizing their protective masks as well as their MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) suits, gloves, and boots.

     “Increased threats involving the possible use of NBC or weapons of mass destruction either on the battlefield or here at home by terrorists have heightened public awareness of the importance of being prepared.  The National Guard, together with the State Police and local law enforcement agencies are responsible to protect the public during emergencies.  Whether the threat is caused by natural calamity, industrial accident, act of war, or terrorist attack. Training is how we prepare for the unexpected and how we maintain maximum levels of readiness,” sail Lt. Col. John Sheard, Operation OIC (Officer in Charge) of the exercise.

Please call Staff Sgt. Barb Harbison, Public Affairs Specialist at 609-530-7088
by 3 p.m. on Friday, November 18 to confirm attendance for this event.

     Three OH -58 Kiowa aircraft and UH-1 Huey will be involved.  A briefing for guests and observers will be conducted at 09:30 a.m. at the transfer Station.  Brig. Gen. Frank Carlini, Deputy Commander, Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), Colonel Jorge Martinez and Colonel John DiNapoli, Troop Command Commander, and DECON Operation “ Wipe Down ” Commander will also be involved in the training activity.

     According to Lieutenant Colonel John Sheard, Operation OIC (Officer in Charge), “Increased threats involving the possible use of NBC or weapons of mass destruction either on the battlefield or here at home by terrorists have heightened public awareness of the importance of being prepared.  The National Guard, together with the State Police and local law enforcement agencies are responsible to protect the public during emergencies. Whether the threat is caused by natural calamity, industrial accident, act of war, or terrorist attack. Training is how we prepare for the unexpected and how we maintain maximum levels of readiness,” sail Lt. Col. John Sheard, Operation OIC (Officer in Charge) of the exercise.

     For those who don't take the threat seriously, Lt. Col. Sheard reminds us that New Jersey was the focus of the world's attention during the Anthrax threat more than a year ago.