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Northern Edge

Alaska Shield/Northern Edge 2005

Three U.S. warships, along with more than 5,000 Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and personnel from various federal, state, and local agencies, successfully concluded exercise Alaska Shield/Northern Edge 2005 Aug. 15-19, bringing an end to Alaska's premier emergency readiness training exercise.

Northern Edge 2005 was combined with the State of Alaska's homeland security exercise called Alaska Shield which incorporated federal, state and local organizations in natural and human-made disaster and terrorist-related scenarios in an interagency environment. This exercise provided a wide range of simulated natural disasters and terrorist events in 21 communities throughout Alaska designed to train military and civilian "first responders" and test organizational and integration skills at all levels of government. This exercise was considered a capstone event for Alaska's three year Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Plan. Scenario elements and venues included an earthquake in Juneau, bioterrorism in Ketchikan and Juneau, critical infrastructure protection at Fort Greely refinery, and terrorist attacks in various cities throughout Alaska. NORAD objectives for this exercise included the following:

• Provide air sovereignty
• Execute counter-air operations
• Operate a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear warning and reporting system
• Support other US and Canadian Government Agencies as directed by the Secretary of Defense
• Exercise Operation NOBLE EAGLE procedures
• Exercise an Air/Expanded Maritime Interception Operation (EMIO)

To conduct maritime homeland defense operations against the notional terrorist threat at sea, a Maritime Action Group was formed consisting of USS Russell (DDG 59), USS Crommelin (FFG 37), USS Ogden (LPD 5), and a variety of Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force aircraft. Additionally, USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) and USCGC Boutwell (WHEC 719) played opposing forces. The group was commanded by Commander, Destroyer Squadron 21, Capt. Vic G. Mercado, who was embarked aboard Russell.

During Northern Edge, the Navy and Coast Guard worked together to search and detect notional suspect vessels believed to be carrying known terrorists. Once detected, the vessels were boarded via compliant and non-compliant boarding procedures. A Coast Guard Marine Safety and Security Team (MSST) from Long Beach, Calif., embarked Ogden and conducted non-compliant boardings via small boat transfer.

Multiple service aircraft were also involved with “at-sea” deterrence and defense operations during the exercise. Air Force E-3 aircraft and a Coast Guard C-130, along with a Navy SH-60B Seahawk and P-3 Orion aircraft conducted search and surveillance operations. Additionally, Air Force F-15E Eagle strike fighters, controlled by Navy air controllers on Russell, performed low pass show-of-force missions over the notional suspect vessels.