Approximately 60-90 volunteers are being sought for a disaster training event of the Texas State Guard which is scheduled June 23 and June 30th at Camp Bowie and in Brownwood.
According to information released by the Texas State Guard, the event is an annual training conducted by TXSG which will incorporate a Simulation Cell (SIMCELL) to conduct external coordination of volunteers and resources, giving the command staff and soldiers/airmen the opportunity to experience “role players” who are not military and “real world” injects to validate operational guides and problem solving processes needed for disaster response and support. Volunteers, through their participation, will gain the opportunity to prepare, plan and respond to a disaster.
The concept of the event will be based on a hurricane disaster and an operations order will be issued to approximately 270 people in the regiments. These regiments will deploy their units to several sites in Brownwood including Brownwood High School and Brownwood Middle School during the hours of 8:00am and 3:30pm each Saturday. Volunteers will be used during the training at the schools as well. At the end of the exercise, units will redeploy back to the base and volunteers will be released from the site and/or will return back to the staging area. Observer Controls (OC) will be collecting information and surveys for a brief After Action Report.
Volunteers are asked to report to the Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC) at the Boys and Girls Club located at 1701 Avenue L in Brownwood for the official sign-in process and assignments. Times to report will vary and are subject to the roles that the volunteers play. For example, a student group with a leader will arrive at a shelter and one of the students will become ill and the shelter team will have to deal with the problems associated with this illness.
There will also be a mobile Public Affairs Team roaming around conducting interviews for this exercise. Points of Distribution (PODS) will also be simulated and will conduct Shelter Management Operations such as planning, process and client services.
Those interested in volunteering for the training are asked to pre-coordinate or register with Officer in Charge CPL Paul Petit at 325.261.3099 or to register online at www.simcellcmoc.eventbrite.com. Volunteers must be associated with an organization/business for the purpose of liability and insurance, such as Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, Girl Scouts, Service Organization, Religious Organization, etc. Volunteers are welcome to bring their children, spouses, and significant others/caregivers – this is great opportunity to experience and prepare for a disaster/emergency, according to information released.
Volunteers are asked to coordinate with CPL Petit as soon as possible, and the volunteers can register for part or all of the day.
Some out of town volunteers who will be participating in the training include:
- Boy Scout Troop 1623 – Mission, TX
- 97.7 FM Radio Station Special Response Team – McAllen, TX
- Disaster Aid (NGO/PVO) – St. Charles, LA
TXSG organizers state that the training is a great opportunity to gain experience in business continuity, emergency planning, community service hours, incident command, communications, and assisting/understanding the Texas State Guard’s Mission – “Texans Serving Texas.” For more information about the Texas State Guard, please visit the website www.txsg.state.tx.us.
