Caravans of Humvees and military trucks crisscrossed St. Croix this weekend as the Virgin Islands National Guard conducted operation Forward Guardian, a “defense support to civil authorities capabilities” drill.

Colonel Daryl Jaschen explained that the drill was meant to evaluate VING’s ability to support the civilian government and local police in the event of a natural disaster. In this weekend’s scenario, soldiers simulated their response to an earthquake and tsunami striking St. Croix.

“Traditionally, we prepare for hurricanes, but we’re notching it up a little bit,” Jaschen said.

He said that a hurricane, normally gives authorities several days to prepare. But with a tsunami and earthquake, “You’re not sure what’s going to happen.”

He said his soldiers would deploy in such a way that they would be ready to handle any scenario.

“Vehicles will be positioned in the field and we’re going to respond how we need to respond,” he said.

The drill involved National Guard soldiers from across the territory. Units from St. Thomas were ferried over on ships to participate.

In total, more than 500 soldiers spent Friday and Saturday night sleeping in tent barracks at camps near Altoona Lagoon and Camp Arawak on the south shore. A third camp, at Paul E. Joseph Stadium, had to be relocated due to flooding, first to Alexander Henderson Elementary School, then to the National Guard compound in Estate Bethlehem.

At Camp Arawak, VING established its joint forces headquarters from which scenarios and orders were sent to soldiers in the field.

Captain Wanda Williams explained that in order for the drill to be effective, none of the soldiers involved could know exactly what was going to happen or what they would be asked to do.

She said this was the first time in several years that soldiers from both islands had participated in a drill of this size within the territory. Hurricane Hugo had taught VING that they need to be ready to respond to any scenario, she said.

“The only way to be prepared is to drill,” she said.

At Altoona Lagoon, soldiers prepared potable water that could be transported across the island as needed. A portable desalination plant set up on the edge of the bay pumped hundreds of gallons of purified ocean waters into large containers.

The VING camp took up the back half of the park, with row upon row of green canvas tents set up among the trees. At the center, Lt. Colonel Sally Petty, commander of the 786 combat sustainment support battalion, gave orders from her command post.

Petty said that in addition to water support, her soldiers also responded to a simulated riot in support of the police.

She said the drill required full time and part time National Guard soldiers to work in tandem, but that it was nothing they could not handle. She said her soldiers had trained extensively together for this type of scenario.

“When we finally come together, all the planning and execution comes to fruition,” she said.

The drill is scheduled to end Sunday morning.