Soldiers and equipment arrive at White Sands missile Range for the exercise Vigilant Shield 18. Includes video of equipment arriving at Condron Army Airfield, and Soldiers arriving at the vacant, move-in-ready company area. – Defense Video

A 10-day rapid deployment exercise designed to test the Army’s capacity to protect critical defense facilities kicked off here today with the arrival of Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, N.Y., and Air Force cargo planes from Texas and Arkansas.

Called Vigilant Shield 2018, U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command plan the annual exercise and training event. Vigilant Shield simulates a rapid deployment mission where Soldiers are called upon to protect a critical infrastructure facility somewhere in the United States.

Soldiers from the Division’s Company C, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry, flew to Fort Bliss this morning and then traveled to WSMR. As part of the exercise, the will work alongside WSMR’s resident guard force.

Video by John Hamilton White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs

Featured image by video screen capture