Mississippi National Guard Soldiers Share Disaster Response Experience with Uzbekistan Partners
The training is a key part of the Department of War’s State Partnership Program, which pairs states’ National Guard with partner nations to foster long-term, mutually beneficial relationships, and focused on enhancing Uzbekistan's national disaster response framework.
The MSNG team shared experiences in domestic emergency response and Defense Support to Civilian Authorities operations. The MSNG SPP coordinator, Warrant Officer Brett Patterson, began the exchange with an overview of the U.S. National Incident Management System (NIMS), a federal framework to standardize how the U.S. prepares for, responds to, recovers from, and mitigates incidents of any type or scale.
Building on that foundation Sgt Maj. Robert Short, 112th Military Police Battalion operations sergeant major, discussed the NIMS Incident Command System, the standardized, on-scene incident management approach, enabling the effective integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, and communications to tackle dynamic
and complex emergency scenarios.
"Our goal was to share best practices and strengthen the enduring partnership
between our nations," said Lt. Col. Len Fortenberry with the 66th Troop Command. "We
focused on how we deploy and manage joint task forces during natural disasters,
highlighting the similarities and differences between domestic response and wartime
operations."
Additional training included presentations on critical topics including civil-military
coordination, crisis management, and strategies for combating misinformation during a
crisis.
Sgt. 1st Class Shane Hamann, with the 102d Public Affairs Detachment, presented real-world examples of how MSNG Public Affairs strives to deliver timely and accurate information to the public regarding the involvement of MSNG Servicemembers to prevent the spread of rumors and ensure public safety.
The engagement culminated in a tabletop exercise simulating a large earthquake in the capital city of Tashkent. Republic of Uzbekistan MES personnel collaborated in groups to develop response plans covering four phases: the initial six hours, the 6–24-hour period, the 24–72-hour period, and long-term recovery operations from 72 hours onward. The exercise tested the planning process to restore communications, clear transportation routes, manage evacuation and security, and coordinate with international partners for aid.
The exercise proved to be a valuable learning experience for all involved, with Uzbek personnel demonstrating a high level of engagement and expertise in their field. Discussions included integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to improve planning, restoring healthcare services, and managing the distribution of
essential supplies.
This training marked another successful engagement between the MSNG and
Uzbek partners, reinforcing a shared commitment to regional stability and humanitarian
assistance. Future collaborations plan to build on the foundation established during the
engagement, with plans for more detailed disaster response training and subject matter
expert exchanges.
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