WyNG Quick Reaction Force to train at WMCI

  • Published
  • Wyo. Military Department
Members from the Wyoming National Guard's Quick Reaction Force will be training at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington, Nov. 6-7.

The exercise is designed to train personnel on force protection capabilities to include vehicle searches, barrier control and riot control. Most of the personnel are from the Wyoming Army National Guard's 960th Brigade Support Battalion. Manning the reaction force is the unit's secondary mission.

A $297,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security trained the Wyoming Army National Guard Soldiers and the Wyoming Air National Guard Airmen to be ready on short notice to protect Wyoming's critical infrastructure, by providing site security, patrols, check points, security and other duties as situations warrant.

The governor has the authority to activate the group for state emergencies. They also may be used to protect selected Department of Defense assets.

Local law enforcement and prison employees are aware of the training.

"Part of our state mission includes responding on short order to emergency situations at the governor's request," said Col. Martin Kidner, Wyoming National Guard contingency planner and exercise coordinator. "We have held successful exercises throughout the state and wanted to capitalize on the relationships we built to ensure we remain prepared to protect the residents and key locations of Wyoming should we be called to duty."