Airmen assigned to the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Civil Engineer Squadron participated in a training exercise July 31 with the New Jersey Army National Guard's 21st Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team and the New Jersey State Police hazmat response team in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Held at Mercer County Park in West Windsor Township, New Jersey, the exercise included briefings, command coordination, safety procedures and joint decision-making tasks in a hazardous environment. The training prepared the units for real-world emergencies, whether they involved chemical, biological or explosive devices.
"We scheduled and prepared the exercise with direct consultation and support from our partners at the 21st WMD-CST, National Park Service and the New Jersey State Police," said Air Force Master Sgt. David Bernal, 177th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team superintendent. "The 177th EOD team's objective was to provide explosive hazard support to our law enforcement partners."
During the exercise, the EOD team used a Man Transportable Robotic System in a simulated hazardous material scenario, before the 21st Civil Support Team sampled and identified the material. In a follow-on scenario near a mock concert stage, EOD airmen performed on-site mitigation procedures alongside partner agencies.
"Honestly, I think the biggest part of this was the interoperability between us, the [civil support team] and the state police," said Air Force Senior Airman Robert Wittig, an EOD technician with the 177th Civil Engineer Squadron.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to kick off in June 2026 and is expected to be a hotspot for many games, especially the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 21st WMD-CST and the New Jersey State Police hazmat response team will conduct additional training exercises to prepare for the anticipated influx of people attending the tournament.
"We want our airmen and the public to know that interagency training and joint operations are routinely conducted to ensure public safety and security," Bernal said.