A derailed train smolders in the morning sun, covering the surrounding countryside with thick, white smoke. The dirt farm roads are littered with burned-out vehicles and pockets of fire. Limbs stick out from piles of twisted metal and scorched rubble. A child’s bicycle is lodged in the fork of a tree. The rolling hills just outside Butlerville, Indiana, currently look like hell on Earth.
That’s the whole idea behind Guardian Response 17, a complicated training exercise meant to validate the military’s ability to support civil law enforcement authorities in the event of a nuclear catastrophe. Nearly 6,000 participants, including 4,100 military personnel from across the country, are currently on the grounds of the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, a 1000-acre urban training facility nestled just outside Butlerville, to simulate the aftermath of a nuclear attack as closely as possible.
And as far as we’re concerned, the Department of Defense did a pretty damn good job. Just look at these photos out of Muscatatuck:
Photo via DoD
The farm road at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center is covered with smoke and pockets of fire on Tuesday, April 25, as the effects are tested for Guardian Response, a homeland emergency response exercise which brings close to 6,000 participants to the Indiana National Guard facility in southern Indiana
Photo via DoD
Several railroad cars are staged in a state of collapse for U.S. Army Soldiers to participate in a response and rescue missions during Guardian Response 17 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 26, 2017.
Photo via DoD
Smoke and fire effects were tested early this morning at the rail yard and throughout the compound as units gear up to participate in Guardian Response 17 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana on April 25, 2017.
Nearly 6,000 Soldiers and Airmen from across the country are participating in Guardian Response 17, a multi-component training exercise to validate the military’s ability to support Civil Authorities in the event of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) catastrophe.
Photo via DoD
A fireball erupts from inside a van to simulate an explosion for a U.S. Army response and rescue training event during Guardian Response 17 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 27, 2017.
Photo via DoD
U.S. Army Soldiers take a mannequin through the decontamination process during Guardian Response 17 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center during Guardian Response 17 on April 27, 2017.
Photo via DoD
Decontamination lines are operated 24 hours a day during Guardian Response 17, a multi-component U.S. Army Forces Command training exercise with nearly 6,000 participants being held at the Indiana National Guard’s Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in southern Indiana to validate the military’s ability to support Civil Authorities in the event of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) catastrophe.
Photo via DoD
A U.S. Army Soldier with the 51st Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Company, of Fort Stewart, Georgia, stands watch at a decontamination field site during Guardian Response 17 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 27, 2017.
Photo via DoD
A mannequin lies in the rubble of a training site during Guardian Response 17 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 27, 2017.
Photo via DoD
Sgt. 1st Class John Hawes, a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier supporting the 78th Training Division, carries a medical mannequin for a casualty collection point during Guardian Response 17 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 27, 2017.
Photo via DoD
A U.S. Army Soldier from the 401st Military Police Company checks on casualties during a wellness check training event as part of Guardian Response 17 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 26, 2017.
Photo via DoD
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 22nd Engineer Clearance Company, of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, use a reciprocating saw and lubricating oil to rescue a victim from a car during Guardian Response 17 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 26, 2017.
Photo via DoD
A kid’s bicycle is stuck in a tree as part of the staged scenery for Guardian Response 17 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 26, 2017.