A natural disaster can strike any time, and the National Guard, along with state and county emergency management agencies, will conduct a disaster readiness exercise called PATRIOT 2015 beginning July 21.

PATRIOT is a three-day field exercise held July 21-23, taking place at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center in Camp Douglas. This exercise will test the National Guard’s abilities to support response operations based on simulated emergency scenarios such as strong storm bringing high winds and storm surge creating a collapsed building, mass casualties and the need for Search and Rescue along with evacuations of injured. The National Guard, along with local, state and federal partners will be deployed to exercise venues at Volk Field practicing the response.

“PATRIOT gives our Soldiers and Airmen a chance to hone their skills to respond to a natural disaster and work with emergency management agencies,” said Lt. Col. D.J. Spisso, exercise director for PATRIOT. “This exercise will help all of us prepare for any disaster.”

Spisso added people in parts of Monroe and Juneau counties may see an increase in military equipment moving along roads and interstates, as well as aircraft flying, during the exercise.

More than 1,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 30 states are supporting this year’s exercise. It will also include participating National Guard units from neighboring states, the Wisconsin Emergency Management Division and county emergency management agencies. The exercise provides the National Guard an opportunity to improve cooperation and relationships with its regional civilian, military and federal partners in preparation for emergencies and catastrophic events.