USNORTHCOM brings exercise ARDENT SENTRY to Edwards Published May 13, 2015 By Rebecca Amber Staff writer EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Edwards AFB was treated as a simulated basic-staging area May 13 during U.S. Northern Command's annual Defense Support of Civil Authorities exercise. The scenario for Exercise Ardent Sentry 15 was a major earthquake in Southern California. In this exercise, the earthquake hit early May 11 and by that evening U.S. Army North members were on a plane from Texas heading to California. The Airman and Family Readiness Center was converted into an incident command post where the North American Aerospace Defense Command and other federal agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency could practice their disaster response. Ardent Sentry is a large exercise and is one of USNORTHCOM and NORAD's three Tier 1 exercises, designed to train the command headquarters and its components for their mission of providing defense support of civil authorities if requested by local governments anywhere in the U.S. "Because of the location of Edwards AFB as a federal installation, it has lots of capacity to stage equipment, receive and prepare it for employment by the State of California," said Col. Russell Lewis, US Army North, Task Force 51 chief of staff. According to Lewis, when the federal government employs the Department of Defense in responding to a natural disaster, they are sent out in a supporting role. They try to fill any gaps the state might have in their resources. "Disasters are local, they start local, the response is local," said Lewis. "So everybody from outside is coming in, and at the end of the day, helping provide the capability to meet needs." The exercise is treated as real world as possible. Outside the simulated command center, a US Army Sentinel Mobile Command Center is set up to provide power and satellite communications. In the next room, a basic staging area assessment was conducted to see what assets are already available at Edwards. "For instance, is there an arrival/departure terminal for large numbers of military personnel?" asked Army Maj. Troy Mathis, 43rd Sustainment Bridge, Human Resources Operations branch chief. "There's not one available, so what can we do to push 35,000 people through this location and then back out on mission?" Personnel in the basic staging area are responsible for in-processing and sustaining the forces held at Edwards, including life support, food, water and shelter. In a real-world situation, it might include setting up tents. While the nature of the disaster, scope and resources may vary by location, the USNORTHCOM's national response construct is always consistent. "We've received great support from Edwards," said Lewis. "There's no doubt in my mind, should ever happen, Edwards is more than capable and willing to support the response in California." Ardent Sentry 15 is scheduled to wrap up May 15.