Amy Behrman
NAVAIR Technology and Intelligence Office

MEDIA ADVISORY

A series of simulated terrorist activities will rock the Puget Sound region October 5-7 as part of a mock terrorist exercise sponsored by the Naval Air Systems Command’s Center for Asymmetric Warfare.

The simulated homeland security exercise, Asymmetric Warfare Initiative North 2004, is designed to expose first responder, law enforcement and other local, state, federal and military organizations to multiple, near-simultaneous events in and around Puget Sound maritime approaches and ports.

As part of this exercise, U.S. Coast Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel will board a rogue vessel and uncover intelligence data that suggests possible terrorist activity utilizing cargo ships. The information will be turned over to participating agencies in Tacoma and Seattle. Unfortunately, the intelligence arrives late -- after the terrorists have unloaded containers with suspicious cargo at the Port of Tacoma.

The scenario unfolds with mass explosions on a rail car at the Port of Tacoma, a mock cruise ship at the Port of Seattle, a highway near Tacoma, and on the interstate east of Ellensburg. These events will be played out as live activity in the Strait of Juan De Fuca and at the ports of Tacoma and Seattle and with computer simulations at the Battle Command Training Center at Fort Lewis.

The objectives of AWI-North are to identify capability gaps, demonstrate new and innovative concepts and technologies, and develop solutions for implementation across agencies.

“Our goal is to enable our colleagues at all levels of government to train for a scenario that involves multiple and increasingly complex threats,” according to Dr. David Banks, director of the Center for Asymmetric Warfare. “We purposely designed the scenario based on the collective needs of the participating agencies. The training must be relevant if we are to create a foundation for responding to possible terrorist activity.”

The exercise begins on Oct. 5. A news conference will be held on Oct. 6, with a briefing by Dr. Banks of the CAW and several representatives from participating agencies.

Media Event Details:
Media organizations are invited to observe this multi-agency asymmetric warfare exercise starting at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Port of Tacoma, Wash. Representatives from several participating agencies will be available for interviews. Attendees will have an opportunity to witness a capabilities demonstration of the Washington National Guard’s mass decontamination capabilities.

Advance notice is required to ensure access to the event, which will take place at a restricted terminal. RSVP to Staci Maloof, PNNL communications and on-site CAW public affairs representative, at [email protected] or 509-372-6313.

Media representatives will need to provide their name, news organization, e-mail and phone number. When arriving at the event, attendees will be required to provide press credentials and picture identification to gain access to the opening news conference and response activities site. Parking will be available.

Exercise participants include:

-Civil Air Patrol
-Thirteenth Coast Guard District, Marine Safety Office Puget Sound, Group Seattle, Group/Air Station Port Angeles and Station Neah Bay
-Defense Coordinating Element 5th Army
-Department of Health Division of Radiation Protection
-Department of Homeland Security: Immigration & Customs Enforcement and Customs & Border Protection
-FEMA
-FBI
-Ft. Lewis BCTC
-King County Department of Health
-Naval Air Systems Command’s Center for Asymmetric Warfare
-National Disaster Medical System/Federal Coordination Center
-Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
-Pierce County Disaster Medical Control Center & hospitals
-Port of Tacoma
-Seattle Fire Department
-Tacoma EOC
-Tacoma Fire Department
-Tacoma Police Department
-U.S. Army Northern Command
-Washington State Department of Transportation
-Washington State Patrol
-Western Regional Medical Center
-Washington State Hospital Association
-Washington National Guard
-10th Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction)
-National Guard Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, Radiological, High Yield Explosive (CBNRE) Enhanced Response Force Package
-Washington State Emergency Management Division
-Washington State Patrol
-Western Washington Amateur Radio Emergency Service.

CAW is a national center dedicated to protecting U.S. forces, citizens, and property against asymmetric threats. CAW provides testing, training, and experimentation for Department of Defense expeditionary forces to prepare them to counter the effects of asymmetric warfare, both outside of the US and in concert with federal, state and local authorities in a homeland security environment. Online at www.CtrAsymWarfare.org.