Rosecrans participates in national disaster exercise Published Nov. 3, 2012 By Jennifer Archdekin Missouri National Guard JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- Thousands of Missouri Army and Air National Guard members will join community, state and federal agencies Nov. 3-7 for the National Guard Bureau exercise Vigilant Guard in Missouri. The exercise, which begins Saturday, tests Guard member's abilities to respond to a major disaster including a large-scale earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, MO., is one of the staging areas for Soldiers and Airmen to receive out-of-state Guard units at a joint reception, staging, onward movement and integration site before going on to their missions. "We train for the worst so that we're always at our best," said Army Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard. "Missouri's Soldiers and Airmen are the most battle-tested, seasoned force we've ever had. Whether they're fighting our enemies overseas or supporting the Show Me State during natural disasters at home, our troops get the job done. This exercise is an opportunity to make our force even more ready and capable." Missouri units from across the state will participate. Under the exercise scenario, they will contend with a number of mock challenges, including disrupted public utilities and widespread infrastructure damage. The Guard members will test their ability to provide direct support to state and federal responders in a number of scenarios commonly faced in real-world disasters. Their training includes in-processing of out-of-state forces in St. Joseph and at Camp Crowder; decontamination, search and extraction and medical operations in Columbia; dry-span bridging in Macon; excavation and bridge-site preparation in Festus and sling load and rafting operations in Jefferson City.