"Mirage Gold" was the first opportunity for IRD to test

the significant changes made to IRD

The structural changes proved to be valuable, working well under the full field exercise environment. "Mirage Gold" validated the changes and provided the opportunity for fine tuning IRD's response capabilities.

FBI objectives for the

Gold" exercise were:

of the "Mirage

EVALUATION

The first objective was met during the "Mild Cover" communications exercise and again during "Mirage Gold". The joint effort of the Information Resources Division (IRD) Computer Specialists and the provided the expertise and support to

install the network and trouble shoot any and all problems

This excessive notionalizing is partially a result of the planning process and the on-scene exercise control.

insufficient time for meaningful changes to be evaluated and then implemented for the full-field exercise.

It should also be noted that a major goal of early "Mirage Gold" exercise planning was to ensure that the command posts were not co-located. In previous exercises, the co-location of command posts made the interagency interactions/communications artificial and left the interagency communications untested. Unfortunately, in "Mirage Gold", command posts ended up being co-located again due to the unavailability of safe and secure exercise facilities in the New

separation between the

command posts at future

exercises to adequately test interagency communications.

Recommendation 22: It is recommended that a joint

communications exercise between the

be conducted every year or every other year to exercise and prepare for interagency communication during a nuclear-related crisis incident.

Recommendation 23: It is recommended that the position be located in the main command post in the operations

area.

Recommendation 24: It is recommended that

Recommendation 25:

Recommendation 26: If the same communications testing process is planned for future exercises, it is recommended that a minimum separation of 90 days occur between the communications exercise and the full-field exercise.

SUMMARY

The benefit of the exercise for FBI players was not the ability to exercise investigative techniques (interviews, surveillance, etc.) or tactical training, but how the FBI utilizes the information gathered during investigation and how the FBI interfaces with other agencies during a crisis.

As for the player and controller activities during "Mirage Gold", the efforts and enthusiasm exhibited by all seemed exceptional. Player and controller roles were generally well articulated and understood, thus contributing to an effective exercise. The selection of experienced FBI personnel for key controller roles, such as the was also a contribution to the exercise. The New Orleans Division did an outstanding job in analyzing and correlating data, setting out leads, and making effective decisions based on these factors.