Effective communications are paramount for facilitating emergency response and recovery in the wake of a catastrophic event. To be prepared for such an event, the communications community must gather together periodically to practice its tradecraft in a multi-agency and multi-discipline environment.

      To this end, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN), United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), and the Tennessee National Guard are sponsoring the Tennessee Public Safety Interoperability Exercise / Vital Connections 2018 August 13-16, 2018 at the 117^th Regimental Training Institute, Building 500, 7^th Avenue, Smyrna, TN 37167 (United States National Grid 16SEE4459885115).

      The purpose of this exercise is to:

1. Strengthen relationships between local/state/federal government agencies, non-governmental agencies, and auxiliary communications groups that are involved in emergency communications.
2. Give Communications Leaders (COML) and Communications Technicians (COMT) an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency with task book items in order to complete certification.
3. Facilitate communications related training and breakouts.
4. Demonstrate agency communications platform capabilities and increase awareness of communications assets available through mutual aid.

Questions? Call MAJ Dallas Clements at 615-815-4102