Mississippi Guard, Uzbekistan Train for Disaster Response

JACKSON, Miss. - Soldiers from the Mississippi National Guard, in partnership with U.S. Army Central, conducted disaster preparedness and response training with the Republic of Uzbekistan Ministry of Emergency Situations in Almalyk City, Uzbekistan, May 18-21.

The training is a key part of the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, which pairs states' National Guards with partner nations to foster long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. The exchange focused on enhancing Uzbekistan's national disaster response framework.

The Mississippi National Guard team shared experiences in domestic emergency response and Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations. Warrant Officer Brett Patterson, the Mississippi National Guard State Partnership Program coordinator, began the exchange with an overview of the U.S. National Incident Management System or NIMS, a federal framework that standardizes how the United States prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates incidents of any type or scale.

Building on that foundation, Sgt. Maj. Robert Short, the 112th Military Police Battalion operations sergeant major, discussed the NIMS Incident Command System, the standardized, on-scene incident management approach that enables the effective integration of facilities, equipment, personnel and communications to address 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 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 Mississippi National Guard public affairs professionals deliver timely and accurate information to the public about the involvement of Mississippi National Guard service members, helping prevent the spread of rumors and ensuring public safety.

The engagement culminated in a tabletop exercise simulating a large earthquake in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital. Republic of Uzbekistan Ministry of Emergency Situations personnel collaborated in groups to develop response plans covering four phases: the initial six hours; the six- to 24-hour period; the 24- to 72-hour period; and long-term recovery operations beyond 72 hours. The exercise tested planning to restore communications, clear transportation routes, manage evacuation and security and coordinate with international partners for aid.

The exercise proved a valuable learning experience for all involved, with Uzbek personnel demonstrating high engagement and expertise. Discussions included integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve planning, restore health care services and manage the distribution of essential supplies.

The training marked another successful engagement between the Mississippi National Guard and its Uzbek partners, reinforcing a shared commitment to regional stability and humanitarian assistance. Future collaborations are expected to build on the foundation established during the engagement, with plans for more detailed disaster response training and subject matter expert exchanges.