(U.S. COAST GUARD) — The U.S. Coast Guard, along with Emergency Management Office, the Department of Public Safety, the Commonwealth Port Authority, and the U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Five will conduct a terrestrial and maritime search and rescue field exercise beginning 10 a.m. on March 16.
The search and rescue exercise will be held on land and in the near coastal area of northern Saipan.
The exercise will:
• Employ emergency communication systems and response facilities;
• Implement standard emergency response job aids designed to improve the information gathering and response decision making process;
• Provide an opportunity to drill and evaluate interagency communications and interoperability;
• Afford a controlled situation in which search and rescue facilities practice both terrestrial as well as maritime navigation, search pattern execution, and rescue skills with minimal risk to response personnel;
• Encourage the development of positive working relationships between the diverse agencies involved in response to terrestrial and maritime distress.
Personnel from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam will facilitate the exercise and conduct pre-exercise training with personnel from EMO and DPS.