As the 2025 hurricane season nears, the Texas State Guard (State Defense Force) has mobilized its brigades across the state for Annual Training, a crucial period where soldiers sharpen their disaster response capabilities. With nearly 2,000 members across Texas, the Guard is reinforcing its readiness to protect and assist communities in times of crisis. Among them, the 2nd Brigade has been undergoing an intensive series of exercises and certifications to ensure that when called upon, they are ready, capable, and “ad omnia parati” — ready for anything.
Training operations were held at the Texas A&M University RELLIS Campus and the renowned TEEX Disaster City in Bryan and College Station. There, instructors from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) conducted vital hands-on certifications, including forklift operation. This logistical training is critical in warehousing and disaster supply chain management — functions that proved essential during past crises such as Hurricanes Harvey and Beryl. Guardsmen from the Michigan Defense Force also participated, earning certifications to take back to their units, exemplifying interstate cooperation.
One key area of training involved the deployment of TDEM’s digital assessment tools — iSTAT and pSTAT — which enable soldiers to gather rapid damage assessments using smartphones. These systems played an instrumental role during the devastating May 2024 storms and floods, helping streamline the flow of recovery funds by getting accurate, on-the-ground information to decision-makers quickly. 1st Lt. Adriana Torres of the 1st Brigade briefed 2nd Brigade troops on the tools’ function and best practices, reinforcing the importance of timely, organized data collection following natural disasters.
The field portion of the training saw 2nd Brigade teams engage in a realistic, large-scale Field Training Exercise (FTX) at Disaster City. Designed to simulate real-world disaster environments, the FTX allowed soldiers to apply their newly acquired assessment skills while integrating with engineering and medical teams. These exercises serve not just to build skill but to foster coordination between units and agencies, preparing troops for high-stress, high-impact missions.
In another component of Annual Training, the 2nd Battalion’s Search and Rescue and Recovery (SAR-R) teams conducted a full-scale, mock mass casualty and rescue exercise. This complex scenario, complete with role players, moulage, and medically accurate injury simulations, immersed the guardsmen in conditions mirroring those they may face after a major disaster. Support from medical, engineering, and additional battalion units made the exercise a complete operational test of their SAR capabilities. Major General Roger O. Sheridan, Commanding General of the Texas State Guard, visited during the exercise to observe the professionalism and dedication of the soldiers firsthand.
During the training event, the Guard also celebrated its members’ achievements. Brigadier General E.A. “Buddy” Grantham, Commander of the 2nd Brigade, awarded the Texas State Guard Commendation Medal to Steven Garza, who was also named the 2024 Junior Enlisted Troop of the Year. Command Sergeant Major John Marshall presented Garza with a ceremonial Bowie knife, recognizing his leadership, discipline, and embodiment of the Guard’s values. Garza was also promoted to Sergeant during the ceremony — a moment of great pride for both him and his fellow soldiers.
These moments of excellence and commitment highlight the spirit of service that defines the Texas State Guard. We thank these dedicated men and women who step away from their families, jobs, and personal lives to train and prepare — not for recognition, but to ensure that Texas and the United States remain ready to meet any challenge.
Additionally, we are excited to announce that we recently held our latest Commanders Briefing with Major General Roger O. Sheridan, the new Commanding General of the Texas State Guard. The podcast is currently undergoing editing and review and will be released in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for this insightful discussion on the direction and future of the Texas State Guard.
Instructors from Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service – TEEX and Texas Division of Emergency Management train and certify members of 2nd Brigade, Texas State Guard, in the operation of forklifts used in warehousing and loading and unloading vehicles during Annual Training at the TDEM Region 8 Warehouse, Texas A&M University, Rellis Campus, Bryan, Texas, April 25, 2025. These skills are vital during disaster response to provide and maintain adequate supplies in cooperation with our partner agencies. This capability was especially helpful during Hurricanes Beryl and Harvey when guardsmen provided warehouse and logistics support. Guardsmen from the Michigan Defense Force also obtained their forklift certification to take back with them to their units. Well done all! (Texas State Guard photos by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gregory Illich)
1st Lt. Adriana Torres, 1st Brigade, Texas State Guard, briefs guardsmen of 2nd Brigade on safety in the field during an overview and introductory training of the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) damage assessment tools, iSTAT and pSTAT, for hands-on use during a field training exercise at Disaster City during Annual Training at the TDEM Region 8 Warehouse, Texas A&M University, Rellis Campus, Bryan, Texas, April 25, 2025. Torres explains that these are surveying tools that allow guardsmen to go into the community after a natural disaster and assess the damages to expedite the process for the local authorities to get the funds they need to rebuild.
Texas State Guard disaster response teams used these tools in the wake of the May 2024 storms and floods. A special thanks to 1st Lt. Torres for lending her expertise. Well done all! (Texas State Guard photos by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gregory Illich)
Guardsmen from 2nd Brigade, Texas State Guard, form teams and use the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) iSTAT and pSTAT survey tools during a large scale Field Training Exercise (FTX) as a facet of Annual Training at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service – TEEX Disaster City, College Station, Texas, April 26, 2025. The FTX simulates realistic scenarios the guardsmen would encounter in the field, allowing them to put classroom training to use. They are also supported by engineering and medical teams. These tools, accessed on smart phones, enable the TXSG, partnering with TDEM and other agencies, to assess and report damage to personal property and infrastructure to expedite the flow of resources into hard hit communities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency as were utilized during the May 2024 Storms and Floods which stretched from Houston to North Texas. Well done all! 2nd Brigade is ad omnia parati, “Ready for Anything”. (Texas State Guard photos by Warrant Officer 1 Willie Grimes)
Search and Rescue and Recovery (SAR-R) teams, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Texas State Guard, with support from medical, engineers, and other battalions, conducted a full-scale mock search and rescue, mass care exercise as a facet of Annual Training at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service – TEEX Disaster City, College Station, Texas, April 26, 2025. With realistic details using moulage, role players, medical support, and action injects taken from actual events, guardsmen hone their skills with some of the same scenarios they would face in the wake of a natural disaster or other emergency. Maj. Gen. Roger Sheridan, Commander, Texas State Guard, also visited the troops in the midst of the exercise. 2nd Brigade is ad omnia parati, “Ready for Anything.” Well done all! (Texas State Guard photos by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gregory Illich)
Brig. Gen. E.A. “Buddy” Grantham, Commander, 2nd Brigade, Texas State Guard, awards the Texas State Guard Commendation Medal and Command Sgt. Maj. John Marshall presents a ceremonial Bowie knife to Steven Garza and on the occasion of naming him the Junior enlisted Troop of the Year for 2024, during a ceremony at Annual Training, Bryan, Texas, April 27, 2025. This honor recognizes his exceptional leadership, commitment to duty, and the highest standards of military excellence. Garza was also recently promoted to Sergeant. Well done and well deserved! (Texas State Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gregory Illich)
Source: Texas State Guard
