Exercise Urgent Response Tests Marine Corps Installation Partnerships

View Online Exercise Urgent Response Tests Marine Corps Installation Partnerships Sept. 4, 2026 |  By Dustin Senger, Blount Island Command Simulated gunfire interrupted the workday inside an occupied office building yesterday as service members, civilian employees and contractors at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Florida, faced a split-second decision: run, hide or fight. The attack was part of Exercise Urgent Response, a four-hour, full-scale force protection exercise that brought the Marine Corps facility together with Jacksonville fire and law enforcement agencies, state emergency managers and federal investigators.    Participants tested how they share information, treat simulated mass casualties, respond to explosive hazards and preserve the military installation's mission during a complex emergency.    The facility provides infrastructure, maritime access and workforce support for Blount Island Command. The tenant command, under Marine Corps Logistics Command, generates and distributes ready-for-issue equipment and supplies across the global positioning network.    A high-decibel blast simulated gunfire as exercise role players portraying active assailants moved through stairwells, hallways, offices and cubicles. As occupants evacuated, sheltered in place or prepared to defend themselves, Marine Corps police department officers coordinated their response with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The scenario tested individual preparedness, requiring those inside to recognize the threat, identify primary and alternate exits, report concerning activity and respond appropriately when law enforcement entered the building.    Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department crews entered once law enforcement secured access, triaging and treating simulated casualties before transport.    "It was a lot of great communication on all sides," said Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Capt. Shawn Hall. "By the time we arrived, the Marine Corps police department was already in place, already taking lifesaving steps and giving trauma care, so we could get in with medical treatment and transport."    The exercise also reinforced the Marine Corps' 2026 National Preparedness Month theme, "Prepare Today. Protect Tomorrow." The annual September observance encourages individuals and communities to plan ahead and strengthen their readiness for emergencies.    The scenario later expanded to include a simulated explosive threat near the shoreline. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office hazardous devices unit assessed and rendered the device safe. Inside the installation's emergency operations center, participants tracked the evolving scenario, shared information and maintained a common operating picture for decision-makers and responders. Florida Division of Emergency Management representatives supported state-level situational awareness and resource coordination from the center.    Naval Criminal Investigative Service personnel supported intelligence sharing and exercise control.    Together, participants tested incident command, interoperable communications, threat and triage information sharing, resource coordination and emergency medical response while maintaining connectivity with the emergency operations center as multiple situations unfolded.    The exercise expanded on a January operational planning effort that brought the installation, Blount Island Command and local, state and federal partners together to examine how they would protect the Marine Corps facility and sustain operations during a complex incident.    "The exercise successfully validated installation defense plans, mutual aid agreements and real-world interoperability with local, state and federal partners," said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Beau Pillot, Blount Island Command operations director. "Exercise Urgent Response bridged the gap between deliberate planning and real-world execution."    Evaluators from participating organizations observed performance against established objectives throughout the exercise. Their findings will inform a formal review and help refine response plans and future training events.

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Today in DOW: Sept. 4, 2026

Today in DOW: Sept. 4, 2026 Open Press Events Secretary of War The secretary no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Deputy Secretary of War The deputy secretary has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The vice chairman has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > View All Postings   Contacts Additions and corrections for Today in DOW are invited and should be directed to the press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131 or +1 (703) 697-5132. For additional media information click here. Public Inquiries Contact us for more information, if you have questions or for technical support. Media Questions News media representatives with questions for the Department of War may reach our press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131. Duty Officer A public affairs duty officer is available 24 hours a day through +1 (703) 697-5131.

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Military Commissions Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri Trial

View Online Military Commissions Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri Trial Sept. 4, 2026 |  By War.gov The Department of War invites media to cover the military commission trial of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the defendant charged in the attack on the USS Cole (DDG 67). The trial is scheduled to begin October 19, 2026. The proceedings will take place at the Expeditionary Legal Complex located on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), Cuba, and will be transmitted to closed-circuit television (CCTV) sites at Ft. Meade, Md. Media may choose to travel to NSGB if agreeable to the coverage windows outlined below and are willing to pay associated flight fees. The hearing coverage windows are determined by the flight schedule, which is Saturday to Saturday. Specific ground rules for coverage at NSGB will follow registration. The primary purpose of this invitation is to cover the military commissions trial. Tours of the detention facilities are not available. Requests for reporting on Guantanamo topics unrelated to the trial must be coordinated in advance through the public affairs officer with authority over those topics. OMC Public Affairs can provide point of contact information as needed. Due to the expected duration of the trial, proceedings will occur in multiple sessions. Initial coverage windows, including travel: Oct. 17 – 24 Oct. 24 - 31 Oct. 31 – Nov. 7 Nov. 7 – 14 Nov. 14 - 21 Additional coverage windows will be announced as the trial schedule progresses, and dates are subject to change based on trial progression. Media may request to stay for more than one week or any combination of weeks. Registration: Click here for registration and select the appropriate case and dates as outlined above. Deadline: All requests for the initial trial sessions must be received no later than noon, Friday, September 11. Additional details of travel preparations will be provided separately. By submitting the online request form, interested media will begin the travel process, and the OMC Public Affairs will assist in travel preparations CCTV Site: Media choosing to view the hearing, from the media-designated viewing sites at Fort Meade, Md., or Naval Station Norfolk, Va., must send requests via email to osd.mc-alex.OMC.mbx.omc-pa@mail.mil with e-mail subject line matching the court case and the following information: name, position, news organization and contact information. Contact Mr. Ronald Flesvig, OMC Public Affairs, for additional questions at ronald.flesvig2.civ@mail.mil or (571) 372-3713. Case information can be viewed at the Office of Military Commissions website: https://www.mc.mil

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TFG to close up to 280 stores over 3 years

Tiger Brands, SU partner on food system resilience | Inaugural Geshido Insights Awards winners

Retail Fri 4 September 2026 ALL INDUSTRIES  | COMPANIES  | JOBS  | EVENTS  | SUBMIT NEWS  | ADVERTISE  | FOLLOW  | MY ACCOUNT  | SUBSCRIBE  |  UNSUBSCRIBE TFG to close up to 280 stores as Bash drives 54% African online growth TFG expects approximately 80 additional stores to fall within its closure parameters during the current financial year, followed by about 100 further closures across the subsequent two years... Read more Tiger Brands, Stellenbosch University partner on food system resilience The three-year partnership will focus on agronomy, agricultural economics and food safety, while supporting research and postgraduate development... read Inaugural Geshido Insights Awards spotlight KFC Africa, RCL Foods, MultiChoice and Santam The inaugural awards recognise businesses that are going beyond collecting data and producing research to demonstrate how insights can influence decisions, change actions and deliver measurable impact... read Banking & Finance The BNPL boom is here – and PayJustNow’s latest numbers show it PayJustNow’s record month signals something bigger: flexible payments are moving rapidly from a niche offering into everyday financial behaviour... Read Fashion & Homeware H&M teams up with Elie Saab on latest designer collaboration The Elie Saab H&M collection will reflect the brand’s contemporary vision, as well as its house codes. It will encompass womenswear, menswear and a range of accessories, including footwear... Read Health & Beauty Naturals Beauty marks 18 years with 2 new skincare products The latest launches — the Re-Gen Peptide Power Serum and Botanical Body Oil — extend the brand's offering from targeted facial care to everyday body care. Read Health & Safety Agriculture department urges vigilance over rabies in animals South Africa has recorded 115 laboratory-positive animal rabies cases this year, with Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape identified as hotspots... Read Import/Export Zero tariffs could rewrite Africa-China trade. Who stands to win? BILL BLACKIE China’s zero-tariff opening is reshaping Africa-China trade, but the biggest opportunity may lie beyond immediate savings: who moves first?... Read Packaging Premier Foods factory closure: Talks break down GREG DOR This after Premier objected to two of the worker representatives joining the talks... Read Retail Marketing Location Bank launches PercepXion: the competitor view behind every location ISSUED BY LOCATION BANK A location can lead a brand’s internal rankings and still be losing to a competitor down the road. PercepXion gives multi-location brands the external context their own reporting cannot... Read Publicis takes PepsiCo global media role from Omnicom’s OMD Publicis Groupe has secured PepsiCo’s global media account, taking over a major piece of business previously held by Omnicom’s OMD network... Read New Press Office on Bizcommunity More   |   Join NGInc As a boutique law firm, NGInc is creative, strategic and impactful. Contact  |  News  |  VISIT PRESS OFFICE  |  @NGInc_Attorneys  |  Linkedin FOLLOW US List company List CV List new business List portfolio showcase List profile Submit event Submit gallery Submit job ad Submit new appointment Submit news Submit noticeboard Submit op-ed contribution Home My job ads My events My company My CV Advertising: We welcome your sales enquiries! Email sales and read more about our advertising rates 3rd Floor, 62 Roeland St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa. Tel +27 (0)21 404 1460 © 2026 bizcommunity.com. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe. Manage subscription. Subscribe. Change email. Change frequency to WEEKLY.