Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Terror Drill (NE,IA), Holographic Simulator, FCS + News

Agencies use mock terror attack for drill
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19203569&BRD=2703&PAG=461&dept_id=555106&rfi=6
Many agencies prepared for a large-scale terrorist attack Tuesday, including Civil Service Teams from Nebraska and Iowa, as part of a training simulation.
Teams expected a drill at around 10 a.m. The call came in at 8 a.m. announcing a terrorist attack on the ConAgra Campus near 10th and Farnam streets in Omaha.
"They're trying to rattle us," Assistant Chief Matt Thomas with the Council Bluffs Fire Department said.
A Nebraska Civil Service Team handled the ConAgra incident and discovered the chemical agents used were manufactured in Council Bluffs.
"We got a phone call on a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a warehouse, " Thomas said.
The warehouse, at 1001 S. Sixth St., became the terrorists' mock headquarters, complete with two chemical warfare labs and a floor dedicated to making bombs.
Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad members tackled the suspicious maroon minivan parked out front.
"The van had chemicals and a dispersion agent inside, so we called out the bomb squad to send in their robot and take a look," Captain Brad Nocita with Council Bluffs HAZMAT said. (cont…)


High-tech simulator unveiled at Camp Pendleton
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20080116-9999-1n16train.html
Holographic technology is among the high-tech elements of the Infantry Immersion Trainer at Camp Pendleton.

The Marine Corps is embracing breakthrough holographic technology to teach combat tactics and battlefield ethics at Camp Pendleton as troops there begin another major round of deployments to Iraq.
Marine officials yesterday unveiled the Infantry Immersion Trainer, a high-tech prototype simulator that resides in a former – and decidedly low-tech – tomato-packing plant that still bears directions for truck drivers.
The 32,000-square-foot, $2.5 million training ground became reality after a request from Gen. James Mattis, former commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton. The program capitalizes on 15 years of Navy and Marine research on everything from body movements to urban warfare, coupled with the latest advancements in simulation from defense companies such as Lockheed Martin. (cont…)

KODIAK ISLAND BECOMES KEY STAR WARS TEST SITE
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_bruce_k__080116_kodiak_island_become.htm

HOMELAND SECURITY UPDATE: Chertoff Announces New Border-Crossing ID Rules
http://www.rotor.com/Default.aspx?tabid=510&newsid905=57500

Showing off FCS: Officials must realize program's importance
http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_7980826
Future Combat Systems is exactly what it says -- the future. FCS is the future of the Army and reflects what it will require in terms of personnel, equipment and communications to successfully conduct combat in future arenas. It is the core of the force modernization that is going on now.
It's important that U.S. government officials, elected or otherwise, have a solid grasp of FCS' importance and the necessity of keeping it adequately funded. (cont..)

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