News From USJFCOM: USJFCOM Standing Joint Force Headquarters deploys for 2007 hurricane season exercise

USJFCOM Standing Joint Force Headquarters deploys for 2007 hurricane season exercise

Twenty members of the United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ) deployed to San Antonio, Texas and Providence, R.I. to support a national training event for the 2007 hurricane season.

By Nicole Robinson
Standing Joint Forces Headquarters

(NORFOLK, Va. - June 15, 2007) -- U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ) deployed twenty joint task force experts to a national training exercise for the 2007 hurricane season last month.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff directed U.S. Northern Command to sponsor Ardent Sentry as a homeland defense exercise. Although the exercise events took place in Indiana, New England and Alaska, USJFCOM SJFHQ's principle involvement focused on hurricane response efforts in New England.

The scenario included a Category 3 hurricane striking Rhode Island between Newport and Providence. In response to this hurricane, a variety of Department of Defense, federal, state and local civilian agencies participated, to include six New England states, New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The exercise involved approximately 500 members of organizations responsible for the planning of and response to such an emergency. The majority of these individuals assembled in Providence, R.I. where Joint Task Force Falcon Headquarters was established.

The remaining staff was stationed at the main command post in San Antonio, Texas where U.S. Army North Operational Command Post deployed from to form Joint Task Force Falcon.

SJFHQs are designed to increase the speed in which a service operational headquarters can become a joint task force headquarters. Once the team of twenty arrived in Providence, they were able to perform key staff functions as Joint Task Force Falcon members to provide ongoing support.

"SJFHQ's ability to integrate into the staff provided tools and experience that made the joint task force structure more efficient and effective," stated Air Force Maj. Joel Hansen.

The USJFCOM SJFHQ deployed in support of FEMA in the 2005 hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Based on what was learned from participating in this effort, the SJFHQ was able to apply best practices to the Ardent Sentry exercise.

"We recognize that greater coordination is required between DoD and civilian agencies during disaster relief efforts; based on our experience, we were able to improve this coordination," said Army Lt. Col. Brenda Reinhart who participated as the senior intelligence officer for Joint Task Force Falcon.

In the event of an actual hurricane, the Department of Defense would begin planning in advance of the storm making landfall; that way they can best support the federal, state and local response efforts.

Army Col. German Velez who participated as the future plans officer for Joint Task Force Falcon noted, "Five days prior to landfall is when DoD planning begins - 48 hours out, a designated Service headquarters would begin forming a joint task force headquarters with the assistance of the SJFHQ at the request of the commander."