Introduction: The National Guard is always ready and always there. With APAN, the National Guard is able to collaborate across multi-state response operations, partner organizations and agencies.
Challenges: The National Guard needed an immediate, alternative solution to create a common operational picture (cop).
In June 2015, news moved swiftly across various DOD operations that the Defense Connect Online (DCO) collaboration service would discontinue at the end of its DISA contract. This posed a challenge to the National Guard as many commands were utilizing DCO to create a COP in an effort to share collaborative information across joint operations and partners in real-time.
Solutions: Various National Guard units created APAN Communities of Interest (COI) quickly.
Utilizing APAN’s real-time communications features such as Adobe Connect and Chat, the National Guard is using APAN to enable effective and dynamic unclassified operational execution with its domestic partners. Using APAN assists various units and teams have the same information regardless of their physical location.
Results: The ability to communicate is key within state exercises and HADR events. Various National Guard units have created over 100 common operational pictures on APAN to assist in communicating with federal, civil support, tribes, local authorities, and partner agencies.
Cascadia Rising is a joint exercise with state, federal and national levels of government and domestic partners involved led by NORTHCOM. The simulated, multi-state operation portrays the impacts that may occur in the event of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone with a resulting tsunami. The disaster scenario coordinates with Emergency Operations and Coordination Centers, state EOCs, FEMA, major military commands and neighboring communities. APAN was utilized by Washington’s National Guard participants within the region to manage and collaborate on shared content. Using SharePoint as a platform assisted members organize content by team, damage assessment, policies, RFIs, SITREPs and ArcGIS data. Following the Cascadia Rising event in the Northwest, further disaster training occurred through simulated aftershocks and earthquakes occurring within the Vigilant Guard exercises. California, Oregon and Washington National Guard units utilized APAN to provide real-time support by utilizing APAN’s Adobe Connect as a COP during these exercises. With more than 210 members contributing information within these COIs, the National Guard units were able to coordinate with FEMA, civil support, and other local authorities during the Vigilant Guard Exercises in real-time.