WARSAW — Men and women from around the northeastern portion of the state, who are in the Indiana Guard Reserve 1st Brigade, came to Warsaw in mid-July for a drill to establish a COMMEX with four other state defense forces. But the morning wasn’t just radio communications.

A handful of potential recruits were on hand to learn about the reserves and several groups gathered to prepare for the annual Air Show of Warsaw. The reserves will be providing several different services during the air show, Aug. 14-16.

These men and women will be providing security throughout the event, keeping the public from entering restricted areas and making sure safety procedures are maintained. This may include keeping people off the ramp area when aircraft engines are in operation, making sure no one is smoking near the aircraft, keeping a watchful eye that children are not endangering themselves and other safety measures.

While many of the reservist were receiving training dealing with the airshow, there were others found outside setting up a radio tower and contacting counterparts in Virginia, Tennessee, California, Texas and Indiana. This state defense force high frequency communication exercise was organized through the Virginia Defense Force. The next COMMEX is tentatively set for November 2015.

Lt. Col. Mark Hazelet and Command Sgt. Major Scott Hawks were in charge of the drill for the 1st Brigade.

Those working with the COMMEX, erected a 102-foot inverted V tower allowing the radio to pick up different bands. During the exercise, procedures were followed: ham radio call signs, who is calling, greetings, type of radio antenna being used, and signal strength.

According to 2nd Lt. Steve Sausaman, every drill set up by the reserves includes some type of training. A future drill may include a Community Emergency Response Team class, which will be open to the public. This particular unit has three CERT teams. The group also assists with a mini marathon in May, using it’s radio network for emergency response, backs up the National Guard when called upon.

Hazelet noted the specialty of the local reserves is executing search and rescue and will be leading a search and rescue course in October at Camp Atterbury, as well as a JRTC Camp.

Reservists with all different skills and ranks were on hand to participate in the exercise.

Today’s Indiana Guard Reserve focuses on serving Hoosiers by assisting the National Guard and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security in their domestic missions as well as providing instruction to emergency management teams regarding the National Incident Management System, designing and evaluating training exercises, and executing community support missions.

To learn more about the Indiana Guard Reserve visit www.in.gov/igr/