PUERTO RICO NATIONAL GUARD STATE GUARD COMMAND … · 1/20/2020 · Hon. Ricardo Ros sello Nevares...

COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO

PUERTO RICO NATIONAL GUARD

STATE GUARD COMMAND JOINT FORCES HEADQUARTERS

THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE P.O. Box 9023786, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-3786

Hon. Ricardo Ros sello Nevares (787) 289-1400

Governor

PRSG: RSA TF CO 15 May 2018

MEMORANDUM THRU JTF-PR TF CO, JFHQ-PRSG, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-3786

FOR THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF PUERTO RICO, PRSG, San Juan, Puerto Rico

00902-3786.

SUBJECT: After Action Report Operation Hurricane Maria (OE-2017-047)

Handling Instructions

The information gathered in this AAR/IP is classified as For Official Use Only

(FOUO) and should be handled as sensitive information not to be disclosed. This

document should be safeguarded, handled, transmitted, and stored in accordance

with appropriate security directives. Reproduction of this document, in whole or in

part, without prior approval from Puerto Rico State Guard or Puerto Rico

National Guard is prohibited.

At a minimum, the attached materials will be disseminated only on a need-toknow

basis and when unattended, will be stored in a locked container or area offering

sufficient protection against theft, compromise, inadvertent access, and

unauthorized disclosure.

PRSG: RSA TF CO

SUBJECT: After Action Report OPERATION – Hurricane Maria (EO 2017-0047)

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“Always Ready… Second to None”

1. General:

A. On 18 SEP 04, PRNG BG Isabelo Rivera Negron, The Adjutant General (TAG) of

Puerto Rico, and the Director-State Emergency Management Agency (PREMA)

called his key personnel to once again review the imminent arrival of Hurricane

Maria to the island. All Puerto Rico State Guard (PRSG) units were alerted as well

as personnel tasked to operate the PRNG Joint Operations Center (JOC) reported

to duty the following morning (21 Sep 17). On the early morning of 20 Sep 18,

Hurricane Maria made landfall as a hurricane Category 4 with winds of 155 mph,

initially at Vieques then Culebra and into the eastern portion of the island of Puerto

Rico, with sustained wind of 64 mph (103 km/h) with a gust to 113 mph (182 km/h).

After landfall, wind gusts of 109 mph (175 km/h) were reported at Yabucoa Harbor

and 118 mph (190 km/h) at Camp Santiago 45 to 79 mph raging winds, bringing

heavy thunderstorms and rain showers.

Furthermore, severe flash flooding affected a significant portion of the Island. As

the day progressed the weather deterioration was evident. Early that morning the

Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, BG Isabelo Rivera Negron, instructed his key

personnel on the utilization of PRSG assets in support of emergency relief

operations to severely affected municipalities. All of this support will be under State

Active duty (SAD) parameters.

B. The PRSG Commanding General, BG Edwin I. Rivera Malave issued his

commander´s intent stating his expectations for the delivery of services to the

people of Puerto Rico by the soldiers and airmen of the PRSG. Major Subordinate

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Commands (MSCs) immediately exercised their respective alert rosters as they

began to call-up personnel to report to duty early morning next day.

C. On 21 SEP 2018, The Honorable Ricardo A. Rossello Nevarez, Governor of Puerto

Rico, signed Executive Order (EO) 2017-047. This EO backed-up his intent and

formally authorized The Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, to employ the Puerto

Rico Military Forces assets to provide Military Support to the affected Municipalities

and others Local and Federal Agencies.

2. Operations:

A. The actual disaster relief operations “on location” were conducted during the

period of 21 September 2017 to 19 May 2018. The PRSG personnel gave support

to different missions. The demobilization phase for Operation Maria including

Regional Staging Areas, Mass Care and Communication Personnel thereafter,

was performed between 11 May 18 to 19 May 18.

B. Scope of the mission: One of the main purposes for this State Activation for the

PRSG was to execute the entire operational structure for the distribution of

commodities to all Municipalities of Puerto Rico through the different Regional

Staging Area (RSA) during the State Activation and complement and assist the

Puerto Rico National Guard in any other mission requested.

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Troop to task with the peak number of soldiers by mission site:

TROOP TO TASK PRSG (COMMODITIES/MEDICAL/ENGINEERING)

MISSION MUNICIPALITY MAXIMUM

PAX

ASSIGNED TASK

AGUADILLA RSA (PRNG Armory) AGUADILLA 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

ARECIBO RSA (DE Warehouse) ARECIBO 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

BAYAMON RSA (DE Warehouse) BAYAMON 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

CAGUAS RSA (DE Warehouse) CAGUAS 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

CANOVANAS RSA (DE Warehouse) CANOVANAS 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

CEIBA RSA (PRNG Armory) CEIBA 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

GUAYAMA RSA (PRNG Armory) GUAYAMA 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

MAYAGUEZ RSA (PRNG Armory) MAYAGUEZ 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

PONCE RSA (CEC Warehouse) PONCE 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

PONCE RSA SECURITY PONCE 10 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

UTUADO RSA (Municipal Baseball Park) UTUADO 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

SUPPORT TO FEMA MASS CARE CATANO (FEMA Warehouse)

(40 PAX Max) CATAÑO 40 COMMODITIES HANDLING & REPAKAGING

SUPPORT TO FEMA MASS CARE CAYEY (FEMA Warehouse) (50

PAX Max) CAYEY 50 COMMODITIES HANDLING & REPAKAGING

RSA TASK FORCE/PRSG G3/C2 CELL (FEMA JFO/PRNG JOC) GUAYNABO 36 COMMAND AND CONTROL

CHAPLAIN SUPORT TO PRNG TASK FORCES ISLAND WIDE 6 CHAPLAIN SUPPORT TO PRNG

COMMUNICATION SUPPORT PRNG JOC FORT BUCHANAN 12 COMMUNICATION SUPPORT TO PRNG

MUNICIPAL LNO's & BRANCHES FORT BUCHANAN 160 LNOS FOR COMMODITIES DISTRO

SUPPORT TO PRNG JOC FORT BUCHANAN 24 C2

LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO MUÑIZ ANGB FOR COMMODITIES

DISTRO CAROLINA 65 SUPPORT TO COMMODITIES DISTRO

MEDICAL SUPPORT TO PREMA/PR Department of Health PONCE / UTUADO 47 MEDICAL SUPPORT

PRSG PAYROLL/ADMINISTRATIVE FORT BUCHANAN 4 PAYROLL/ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

SUPPORT 65 INF BN CAYEY CAYEY 3 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

SUPPORT 190th ARMORY CAGUAS CAGUAS 5 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION

SUPPORT TO DONATIONS AND COMMODITIES DISTRO (1st

LADY OFFICE) GUAYNABO 10 DONATION HANDLING & COMMODITIES

DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT TO PRNG WATER PURIFICATION ISLAND WIDE 9 BULK WATER DISTRO

SUPPORT TO FEMA/PRASA INSTALLATION OF WATER

BLADDERS ISLAND WIDE 5 BULK WATER DISTRO

HOME RE-CONSTRUCTION MISSIONS (50 PAX) ISLAND WIDE 0 ENGINEERING SUPPORT

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706 TOTAL PAX

C. The main missions executed by the PRSG were as follows:

a. RSAs Management and Operations: The operational control and

management of the Commodities Distribution System thru nine (9) Regional

Staging Areas in the municipalities of Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamon, Caguas,

Canovanas, Ceiba, Guayama, Mayaguez, Ponce and the Point of Distribution

(POD) Utuado for the surrounding municipalities.

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b. Legal Counseling to soldiers and airmen: The PRSG Legal Team provided

legal assistance and counseling to our force regarding the Puerto Rico Military

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Code and the provisions related to the State Active Duty Mobilization. The

PRSG Legal Team, led by COL Jorge A. Santini-Padilla, submitted an

amendment to the Puerto Rico Military Code that eventually was approved by

the Puerto Rico Legislature and signed into a law by the Governor of PR. The

amendment intent was to provide more benefits and protections to all members

of the Puerto Rico Military Forces call to duty as part of a State Active Duty

deployment.

c. Support FEMA Mass Care Task Force for commodities handling,

inspection and repackaging in the municipalities of Cataño and Cayey.

The total pallet of boxes of meals inspected and repacked by our soldiers and

airmen on this mission was approximately 8,000.

d. Communication support to the PRNG including infrastructure recovery

throughout the island.

This team use radio communications HF, VHF UHF, ALE and folded dipole

broad band antenna to support the PRNG. After hurricane wins they set up

antennas and opened a net control to cheeked conditions of the PRNG

Communications. They established contact with all PRNG armories. They

assigned RTO’s to the PRNG JOC atFort Buchanan and at the Convention

Center.

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e. Logistic, Security Forces and Engineering support to Muñiz Air National

Guard Base. This team provided civil engineering support, logistic and aerial

port support, EOC operations support and Security Forces support to Muñiz Air

National Guard Base.

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f. Security Forces support to 141st Air Control Station at Aguadilla. This

team provided Security Forces support to the 141st Air Control Squadron and

Punta Borinquen, Aguadilla, PR.

g. Liaison Officers and NCO support to the PRNG Joint Operation Center.

This team provided operational and administrative support to the PRNG JOC

at Fort Buchanan.

h. Liaison Officers and NCO support to all Municipalities of Puerto Rico for

the POD coordination. The PRSG provided at least two liaisons officer for each

municipality of Puerto Rico. They served as subject matter experts on the

implementation of the point of distributions concepts and as point of contacts

among the PRNG and the municipalities.

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i. Chaplain Support to the PRNG and FEMA. The PRSG provided chaplaincy

support to the PRNG Task Forces and Subordinated Units, to the FEMA JFO

personnel, and to PREMA personnel.

Chaplaincy Interventions:

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j. Medical Support to the Puerto Rico Department of Health, PRNG, FEMA

and PREMA throughout the island. The PRSG Medical Personnel provided

medical support to several vulnerable communities across the Island. They

impacted more than 15 communities in 11 Municipalities or Puerto Rico for a

total of more than 7,242 patients. Our medical team also provided support to

several mission sites of the PRNG. Just in Utuado our medical team impacted

more than 1,800 patients.

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Some of the sites impacted by our medical team were:

1. Shelter of the Municipality of Jayuya

2. Shelter of the Municipality of Adjunta

3. Santa Isabel Municipal Hospital

4. Two Shelters at the Municipality of Juana Díaz

5. Fort Allen PRNG Field Hospital

6. Shelter of the Municipality of Peñuelas

7. Utuado Municipal Hospital

8. Municipality of Guayanilla Field Hospital

9. Shelter of the Municipality of Ponce

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10. Two Shelters at the Municipality of Salinas

11. Camp Santiago PRNG Hospital

k. Support to the 65th Infantry BN in Cayey on commodities distribution. This

team helped the PRNG 65th Infantry BN on administrative matters and

documentation management.

l. Payroll and administrative support. This team provide payroll and

administrative support to the PRNG.

m. Support to the 190th armory in Caguas on commodities distribution and

engineering. This team provided engineering support to the PRNG 190th EN

BN in several missions around the Island.

n. Support to the 296th Water Purification Company. This team provided

technical support for water purification to the PRNG 296th Water Purification

Company.

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o. Support to the Camp Santiago Joint Training Site and Fort Allen on

engineering and vehicles maintenance. This team provided engineering and

mechanics support to Camp Santiago and Fort Allen.

p. Support to Puerto Rico Search and Rescue Team. This team provided

technical and administrative support to the PRUSAR.

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q. Support to PRNG Army Aviation on Military Police tasks and commodities

distributions. This team provided security and logistic support to the ARMY

Aviation Unit for the Commodities Distribution missions.

r. Military Police support to municipalities of Cataño and Toa Baja. This team

provided security support directly to the municipality of Toa Baja.

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s. Support to the 1st Lady Office for donated commodities distribution. This

team provided technical and logistical support to the PRNG on donation handling

and commodities distribution.

Logistic support to FEMA and PRASA for water bladders installations on

vulnerable communities. This team provided technical and logistical support

to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority. From 02 January 2018 to 15

May 2018, this mission impacted more than 35 Communities in 12

Municipalities of the center area of Puerto Rico.

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t. Command and Control, Safety, Social Work Services, and Medical Support

for all the operational areas and missions. The

Safety/Medical/Chaplain Team keep the high moral and welfare of the troops

in every RSA. No mayor incidents of accidents were experienced on any of our

mission sites. The PRSG/RSA Task Force Command & Control Cell provided

coordination support and oversight for all PRSG missions.

Safety Inspections performed:

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Medical History Report:

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D. Strength:

a. Puerto Rico State Guard Strength breakdown per month.

Strength after 26 Sep 2017 was estimated.

PRSG Strength SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY

OFF 49 78 131 142 72 36 38 35 10

WO 4 9 21 26 12 8 8 8 1

ENL 235 358 513 538 388 299 211 185 60

TOTAL 288 445 665 706 472 343 257 228 71

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E. Operations Summary:

1. Planning/Alert:

a. The PR TAG verbal instructions as well as the Executive

Order (EO2017047) signed by the Governor of Puerto Rico

provided BG Edwin Rivera with sufficient legal authority to

activate the required PRSG troops. On the morning of

September 22, 2017 part of the PRSG General Staff met

at the PR Emergency Management Agency Headquarters

to receive the first reports after Hurricane Maria made

landfall on the Island and the mission requirements for the

impending Disaster Relief Operation.

b. Although other municipalities on the island suffered from

the effects of flash floods, structural damage and the loss

of more than seventy eight percent (78%) of island-wide

communications; given the severity of the unprecedented

damages and at the request of BG Isabelo Rivera Negron,

PRSG BG Edwin Rivera and the Federal Emergency

Management

Agency (FEMA) requested additional PRSG units to join the mission.

c. The Governor of Puerto Rico and PREMA issued a formal

instruction to open the Regional Staging Areas as part of

the Commodities Distribution Plan and ordered that PRSG

assume the Command and Control of that operation.

2. Operations (Execution):

b. This operation began on 22 SEP 18: An effective military

leadership was noticed at every level. The PRSG Col Jesus E.

Delgado was assigned to this operation as the Incident

Commander, Maj. Hector Vazquez as the Operation Section

Chief, 2dLt Nahum Rodriguez as Staging Area Manager, Lt Olga

Davila as Administrative Personnel Officer, 2dLt Luis E. Carbonell

as Planning Section Chief, AIC Javier Ramirez as Logistic

Section Chief, and MSG Manuel Alonso Gay as PRNG JOC LNO. The

Incident Organization Chart (ICS 207) was designated for this operation.

Supported by FEMA, PREMA, PRNG-Directorates and Major Subordinate

Commands (MSC), the operation was executed without major significant

problems.

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c. 24 SEP 18: A total of seventy-eight (78) municipalities were

declared and validated as disaster zones by both the local

government and FEMA. All available PRSG troops were call to

duty by several means, including radio announcements, personal

contacts, and by phone when available. Many PRSG soldiers and

airmen reported to duty on their own initiative and following the

prescribed mobilization instructions.

d. 26 SEP 18: (Readiness) From top to bottom, the soldiers in the

field locations across the nine RSA around the island were in

direct contact with municipal administrations, regional

dependencies guaranteeing the organizational stability of the

government and delivery of commodities for all citizens. This also

covered areas that needed administrative tasks and other

logistical support tasks for quick and effective decisions.

At the beginning of each duty shift, soldiers revisited the scope of mission

and the limitations associated with them and their equipment. Safety was

emphasized at all times.

e. 27 SEP 18: The Local Government and Federal Agencies pointed

out their priority (DR-4339-PR Hurricane Maria) of support the

commodities distributions on the municipalities of Utuado, Las

Marias, Maricao, Corozal, Florida, Lares, Adjuntas, Jayuya,

Barranquitas, Orocovis, Villalba, Ciales and Yauco.

Note: A POD was open to serve only the municipality of Utuado. (Super

POD).

f. 27 SEP 18 to 5May 18:

i. No later than 72 hours after the Hurricane, nine (9) RSAs and one

(1) Major Municipality POD (Municipality of Utuado) were

established as part of the distribution plan during the response and

recovery phases. The RSAs opened were:

a. Mayaguez (PRNG Armory)

b. Aguadilla (PRNG Armory)

c. Ceiba (PRNG Armory)

d. Guayama (PRNG Armory)

e. Ponce (PRNG Armory moved to Commerce and

Export

Company Warehouse)

f. Caguas (Department of Education Warehouse)

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g. Canovanas (Department of Education Warehouse)

h. Arecibo (Department of Education Warehouse)

i. Bayamon (Department of Education Warehouse)

ii. At the fourth week of the operation, a decision was made to make

direct pushes from the LSA’s to eight (8) Major Municipalities and

take those municipalities out of the RSA area of operation.

iii. All nine RSAs were open and distributed a total of 89,072,324 bottles

of water and 26,215,660 meals to all citizens of Puerto Rico,

answering the call to service and complementing the National Guard

of Puerto Rico in more than 40 other missions.

iv. As part of the Commodities Distribution Plan, every municipality

opened their respective PODs and implement their Local

Commodities Distribution Plans.

v. Also, several air missions where deployed to impact the central and

other vulnerable areas of the Island.

vi. Deficiency in the communication across Puerto Rico interrupted the

distribution response.

vii. At the beginning of the mission, we had a significant delay on the

receiving of PPE’s and MHE’s from PRGSA. FEMA took care of that

and provided us the resources needed.

viii. Some commodities came with expiration dates close to the date of

distribution. For this reason, FEMA established an Inspection and

Repacking Operation at two Mass Care Warehouses (Cataño and

Cayey). That operation was led and executed by the PRSG. ix. At

the RSAs the PRSG received more than 8 different types of grocery

and meals. Hard to quantify and keep inventory.

x. Most municipalities didn’t follow the FEMA Point of Distribution

Standards (as stated on the IS26 course) to run their distributions points.

Municipal points of distribution needed stabilization in terms of improving

local coordination and procedures. For that reason, the PRSG was

directed to assign LNOs to each municipality to provide oversight over the

municipal distribution operation. xi. Prior to commencing the RSA mission,

and contrary to the standards established on the IS26 for PODs

Operations, no standardized forms or protocols were available to manage

the RSAs. The PRSG created them.

xii. All RSAs were closed on 12 May 2018. They were properly cleaned

and handle back to the Department of Education and the Puerto Rico

National Guard.

xiii. At the end of the mission, all commodities from all RSAs were send

to the PREMA Warehouse at Ponce. See inventory in Annex A.

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3. Administrative Matters:

a. Accidents and Incidents: See Annex B

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d. Public Affairs: A PRSG photographer from the Public Affairs Section (PAO)

was assigned to the PRSG-RSA Task Force. This photographer visited all

field locations to capture the moments where our soldiers eagerly combined

their efforts to help less fortunate people. The photographer took pictures of

the various operations conducted by State Guard Personnel. (See Annex

C)

e. Morale and Discipline: Both were very high and beyond any expectations

throughout the entire operation. The common people, at every municipality

in which our soldiers provided assistance, were very impressed with their

valuable services, discipline, commitment and overall support rendered.

Some willingly and openly expressed their gratitude and appreciation for a

job well done. Others went further and called them “their new family”.

4. Associated Costs (personnel & logistics):

a. Payrolls processing: The PRSG assigned personnel to provide support to the payroll section of the JTF-PR. The PRNG Administrative Office will provide the final costs associated with this mission.

b. The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico requested to the

President of the United States that Puerto Rico be declared a disaster zone.

With this declaration all associated costs are forwarded to the Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement. The PRNG-

Administrative Services Division, as the state representative for the Puerto

Rico Nation al Guard, will submit to FEMA all applicable costs for

reimbursement. The total amount for reimbursement is estimated as TBD

by PRNG Administrative Services Office. Finally, these funds will be sent to

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico General Fund.

c. Maintenance: To ensure equipment readiness, Preventive Maintenance

Checks & Services (PMCS) was performed on all PRNG and PRSG

equipment on a daily basis. During the programmed reconstitution phase

all military and material handling equipment will have its final maintenance

thus insuring its full readiness for the next hurricane season, prior its turn in

to the assigned storage locations.

5. Lessons learned:

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A. What Supposed to Happen?

a. As preplanned and stated on the PRNG Mission Ready Package, the PRSG

will operate the Regional Staging Areas (RSA) for the commodities distribution

to the people of PR.

b. Provide Liaisons Officers/NCOs to every municipality of PR

c. Provide Medical Support to Vulnerable Communities of PR as requested by

FEMA/PREMA

d. Provide Chaplain Support to PRNG Task Forces and PRSG Operations.

e. Provide Engineering and Mechanics Support to CSJTC & Fort Allen.

f. Provide Logistic, Engineering, and Security Forces Support to Muñiz ANGB.

g. Provide Support and Personnel to PRNG Water Purification Units.

h. Provide Communication Support to the PRNG.

i. Provide Support to FEMA Mass Care TF for the inspection and repackaging of

commodities.

j. Provide Support to Army Aviation for commodities distribution to the citizens of

PR.

k. Provide Support to FEMA and PRASA on water bladders installations on

several sites.

l. Provide Support to the CSH Humacao with medical personnel and translators.

m. Provide Support to PR Urban Search and Rescue (PRUSAR) Team.

B. What Happened?

a. Regional Staging Areas (RSA) for commodities distribution to the

people of PR were properly operated and manned by PRSG.

b. Liaisons Officers/NCOs were assigned to every municipality of

PR.

c. Medical Support to Vulnerable Communities of PR as requested

by FEMA/PREMA was properly provided to several communities

of Puerto Rico.

d. Chaplain Support to PRNG Task Forces, PRSG Operations and

FEMA/PREMA personnel was appropriately provided.

e. Engineering Support to CSJTC & Fort Allen was properly

provided.

f. Logistic, Engineering, and Security Forces Support to Muñiz

ANGB was properly provided.

g. Support and Personnel to PRNG Water Purification Units was

properly provided.

h. Communication Support to the PRNG was properly provided.

i. FEMA Mass Care TF for the inspection and repackaging of

commodities was properly provided.

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j. Support properly provided to Army Aviation on military police and

commodities distribution to the people of Puerto Rico.

k. Support properly provided to FEMA and PRASA on water

bladders installations on several sites.

l. Support properly provided to the Army Combat Support Hospital

at Humacao with medical personnel and translators.

m. Support properly provided to PR Urban Search and Rescue

(PRUSAR) Team.

C. What went right?

a. The PRSG personnel answered effectively and promptly to the call to duty with

a very hi sense of moral and commitment. More than 700 PRSG soldiers and

airmen were deployed on SAD.

b. As planned, we received commodities from FEMA for distribution to the people

of PR.

c. As planned, we received support from PREMA/FEMA for the commodities

distribution and RSA Operations.

d. Our soldiers and airmen adapted and improvised on an outstanding manner to

the lack of MHEs at the beginning of the operations.

e. The PRNG performed several commodities distribution missions from the RSA

to different vulnerable communities of PR.

f. We provided more than 75MM bottles of water and 25MM meals to the people

of PR. We also provided significant amount of pet food to the municipalities and

animal shelters.

g. We had a great integration of our personnel with the Department of Education

authorities and other agencies.

h. Our personnel gave support to the Department of Education on the

maintenance of their warehouses.

i. The Department of Education provided four (4) warehouses for the RSA

operations.

j. The PRNG provided four (4) armories for the RSA operations.

k. The Exports and Commerce Company provided one (1) warehouse for the RSA

operations.

l. We received PPE’s and MHE’s from FEMA/PREMA/ASG.

m. More than 5,000 patients were take care by our Medical Personnel.

n. At the RSA Task Force, we had an outstanding integration and joint work with

the New Jersey and New Mexico National Guard personnel that were

embedded to us.

o. We had a great integration of our LNOs with the municipal authorities and other

agencies.

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p. In coordination with PREMA, the RSA Task Force launched direct missions to

impact vulnerable communities around the Island.

q. In coordination with FEMA, the RSA Task Force and PRSG Chaplain Corps

launched some missions to support PRNG/PRSG soldiers with children with

disabilities. We are providing hygiene items and commodities directly to their

homes.

r. Outstanding Communication support were provided to the PRNG by PRSG

personnel.

s. Outstanding support by the PRASG personnel to the Muñiz Air National Guard

Base.

t. No significant incidents or accidents occurred during the operations.

u. Our JAG Section proposed a Law 62 (Military Code of PR) amendment in

benefit of all the soldiers and airmen of the PRMF. The same was approved by

the Senate and House and signed by the Governor.

D. What went wrong?

a. A large number of our PRSG soldiers and airmen were victims/survivors of the

path of the hurricane and were aversively affected. This prevented their

deployment to the SAD mobilization.

b. Lack of effective ways of communications at the beginning of the operations.

c. Lack of knowledge by some PRNG personnel about the military roll of the PRSG

as part of the Military Forces of Puerto Rico and the customs and courtesies that

should prevail among us.

d. Lack of security personnel for the RSAs. They were supposed to be provided by

the PRPD.

e. Delay on the receiving of the soldiers’ payroll payments.

f. Lack of billeting for soldiers near or at the mission sites.

g. Difficulties to coordinate the subsistence of the soldiers on every site of

operations.

h. At the beginning of the mission, we had a significant delay on the receiving of

PPE’s and MHE’s from the Administración de Servicios Generales (ASG).

i. The PRNG/PRSG HQ were affected by the hurricane and didn’t have a power

generator to operate.

E. How can we improve?

a. Review of daily reporting procedures: Units were submitting their daily strength

reports late at the JOC. This is turn made JOC to submit late reports to both

state headquarters as well as to the National Guard Bureau. Reports of this

nature must arrive NLT 0900 hrs on a daily basis at the JOC.

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b. Increase the PRSG integration with the counterparts of the PRNG. Only by

drilling/working together we will know the capabilities of each other, respect

each other, and help each other to fulfill the mission of the PR Military Forces.

c. In a Joint process with PREMA/FEMA/PRNG, we will improve the SOP’s for the

RSA operations, and standardize the Forms and Processes for the RSA’s Ops.

d. Prepare a RSA Operations course that could be presented to FEMA as a

national standard.

e. Provide the FEMA IS-26 course (Point of Distribution Operations) to all our

LNOs and the Municipalities.

f. Prepare a State Mobilization Procedures and Task Force Operations course

that will be use to prepare the PRNG-PRSG for any State Active Duty

Mobilization.

g. Establish an Incident Management Team and an Incident Management

Assistant Team to be subject matter expert on the Incident Command System

and National Incident Management System.

h. In a Joint process with PREMA/FEMA/PRNG, we will improve the SOP’s for the

LNO’s operations. Re-establish the course for the PRSG/PRNG LNO’s where

we train them about their roles and responsibilities and how to interact with

municipalities and other agencies.

i. Increase the PRSG participation and integration in every PREMA / FEMA /

PRNG DSCA / DOMOPS exercise or planning section.

j. Establish at least four (4) permanent warehouses for RSA operations at each

cardinal point of the Island. The PRSG will drill on those sites on regular basis

to practice the RSA operations and keep the facilities in good shape.

k. Issue a clear guidance about the use of equipment and weapons by the PRSG

personnel.

l. Integrate and keep an actualized PRSG personnel roster to the PRNG G1 data

base. Improved the PRSG Personnel Management System and Identification

Card to increase the interoperability with PREMA, FEMA and other emergency

management agencies.

m. In order to provided support to the PRNG/PREMA or any other agency, the

PRSG is going to organized an Incident Action Team that will be composed by

Subject Matter Experts on Incident Command System, National Incident

Management System, ICS Forms, DSCA and State Active Duty mobilization

processes. This Team could be integrated to the PRNG DOMOPS on a drill by

drill basis.

n. Provided more spiritual/psychological and any other kind of help and support to

PRNG/PRSG soldiers and airmen that were survivors of the hurricane and had

several losses and/or PTSD.

PRSG: RSA TF CO


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o. Acquire appropriate administrative supplies and office equipment for the PRSG

HQ and Subordinated Units.

p. Evaluate and Improve the PRNG Payroll process and procedures.

q. Plan, Train and Exercise.

6. Attachments

a. Annex A: Final Inventory at Ponce PREMA Warehouse

b. Annex B: Final PRSG SAD Personnel Roster

c. Annex C: Awards Distribution by PRSG Units

d. Annex D: Subordinated Sections & RSAs AARs

7. PRSG Point of Contact and Signed

Col Jesús E. Delgado-Morales, PRASG

Commander, PRSG/RSA Task Force

PRSG: RSA TF CO


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Phone: 787-342-2169

Email: [email protected]

Maj Héctor R. Vázquez-Rivera, PRASG

Planning Section Chief, PRSG/RSA Task Force

Phone: 787-460-9226


2d Lt Nahum J. Rodriguez-Oquendo, PRASG

Planning Section Adm. Officer, PRSG/RSA Task Force

Phone: 787-502-8888


Puerto Rico State Guard HQ

P.O. Box 9023786

PAR 3 ½ San Juan, P.R. 00902-3786

CC: PRSG CG

PRSG: RSA TF CO


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Annex A: Final Inventory at Ponce PREMA Warehouse

PRSG: RSA TF CO


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Annex B: Final PRSG SAD Personnel Roster

PRSG: RSA TF CO


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Annex C: Awards Distribution by PRSG Units Annex D:

Subordinated Sections & RSAs AARs

PUERTO RICO NATIONAL GUARD STATE GUARD COMMAND … · 1/20/2020 · Hon. Ricardo Ros sello Nevares...

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Transcript of PUERTO RICO NATIONAL GUARD STATE GUARD COMMAND … · 1/20/2020 · Hon. Ricardo Ros sello Nevares...