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KIRKSVILLE -- If you were driving past Truman State University in Kirksville Wednesday morning, you probably saw a lot of black vehicles.

That’s because The 7th Civil Support Team of The Missouri National Guard was performing a drill.

The group was formed in 1999 to help communities around The Show-Me-State in the event of a disaster. The soldiers are trained first responders in any type of disaster, especially man-made one involving weapons of mass destruction.

They are trained to identify and handle those types of situations. The drill performed was to put the team to the test.

“The scenario was we were called by the university police here at Truman State University to come to a classroom that had a suspicious package. We were to investigate the package and determine what the contents were whether it was hazardous or not.” Said Colonel Raymond White of The Missouri National Guard.

White said that the Guard performs these types of drills once a month to help the group practice their skills.

 “It gives our guys the opportunity to continue to practice and refine their skills. Using all the different equipment that we have, getting use to what could happen in each and every different scenario. Just to learn and train, how to work together as a team, and identifying things.”

The drill also gave the group the chance to learn how to use the chain of command and to get state and federal resources.

Despite the heat the drill was a complete success and White hopes it gave the community a chance to see the group in action.

“We want them to know that we are an asset available to them to use so that if they ever need us, they know how to contact us, how to utilize us. We want the communities to understand as Missouri National Guard Solders and Airman, we are here to support the community as we do throughout the state and all other disasters.”