U.S. Army Spc. Lucas Cooper, with the 4th Platoon,

U.S. Army Spc. Lucas Cooper, with the 4th Platoon, 741st Quartermaster Company, South Carolina National Guard, inspects the tactical water purification system during exercise Ardent Sentry at Barnwell, S.C., May 18, 2013. Ardent Sentry is a NORAD and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)-directed exercise focusing on defense support of civil authorities in response to simulated weather, security and disaster contingencies. While Ardent Sentry is primarily a command post exercise, several field training events were conducted at various locations within the USNORTHCOM area of responsibility. Ardent Sentry, conducted May 17-21, 2013, involved a scenario of a hurricane striking the South Carolina coast requiring more than 1,500 members of the South Carolina National Guard to practice disaster response activities and coordination procedures. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jorge Intriago/Released)