Photo Information

U.S. Marines, Sailors, and DoD participate in exercise Vigilant Response 2017, Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Nov. 7, 2017. VR17 is a two-day exercise designed to test the ability to conduct command and control measures in response to an aviation mishap aboard the air station.

Photo by Pfc. Damaris Arias

MCAS New River to conduct emergency response exercise

1 Nov 2021 | MCIEAST COMMSTRAT Marine Corps Air Station New River

Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River will partner with local emergency services to conduct the annual Exercise Vigilant Response Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on MCAS New River.

The full-scale exercise provides realistic training opportunities to increase the air station and community emergency response and recovery efforts during a mass casualty event. Community participants include New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Vidant EastCare, Onslow County Emergency Services, Onslow Memorial Hospital and the Red Cross of Onslow County.

The local community can expect the following significant events:

  • Increased emergency services radio and communication traffic.
  • On-base exercise announcements.
  • Smoke, fire and simulated explosions at MCAS New River.
  • First responder vehicle movement, including fire trucks, police cars and medical helicopters, traveling between MCAS New River, Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune and Onslow Memorial Hospital.

This event is not open to the public. If you do witness an emergency event and are unsure if it is part of the exercise, please call 911.

For more information, please contact MCIEAST-MCB Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River Communication Strategy and Operations Office via e-mail at mcieastcommstrat@usmc.mil.