National Guard to drill in Las Vegas for NYE

Nevada National Guard troops will conduct their annual drill in Las Vegas from Tuesday through Thursday to coincide with the influx of tourists celebrating New Year’s Eve.

From 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, about 65 Nevada Guard soldiers and airmen will participate in the yearly domestic operations exercise in conjunction with local law enforcement and first-response agencies, Nevada Army National Guard spokesman Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka said.

“The exercise is not due to any specific threat to any area of Nevada and has occurred annually for more than 12 years,” he said.

Studenicka said the Guard troops will “provide an extra set of eyes and ears at McCarran International Airport and others will be stationed near law enforcement and fire fighting facilities throughout the Las Vegas Valley.”

Nevada National Guard personnel participating in the exercise are assigned to the 137th and 72nd Military Police companies; the 1-221st Armored Reconnaissance Squadron; the 92nd Civil Support Team; the 152nd Airlift Wing, the 17th Sustainment Brigade; the 485th Military Police Company and the 152nd Airlift Wing.

A Nevada Army Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter will also be in the area on a training flight but won’t be participating in the exercise.

With the troops on hand, “the Nevada National Guard will be able to quickly provide military resources in the case of any contingency,” Studenicka said.

Contact Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308. Find him on Twitter: @KeithRogers2