The Alaskan portion of the large-scale Ardent Sentry/Northern Edge 2007 exercise currently running in several states comprised a mass casualty event bringing together civilian first responders and Air Force and Army emergency response specialists and “victims.” A US Northern Command release states that some 5,000 personnel participated in the event at the North Pole (Alaska) Refinery Complex. Government and civic leaders watched the action.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.