by STEPHANIE GASKELL
On 9/11, the New York National Guard worked side by side with the Fire Department to secure the city and search for survivors.
That relationship was further strengthened Saturday as the soldiers and firefighters carried out their first large-scale training exercise on Randalls Island.
More than 400 soldiers and 100 firefighters responded to a simulated bus explosion, a building collapse and a chemical attack in the subway at the FDNY training academy.
"With 9/11, what we learned was that everybody wanted to help but there was no real streamlined response in place," said Staff Sgt. Ash Jhimmaiah, 28, of Staten Island.
"The point of this exercise is to build that relationship."
Firefighters and National Guard soldiers work together all the time - most recently during Pope Benedict's visit - but they are now coordinating their training on a much larger scale.
The National Guard has a special Civil Support Team, based in Scotia, N.Y., that is ready to back up the FDNY at any time. Another team will be set up at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn next year. There are about 60 CSTs nationwide.
"It wasn't always popular to have the Army come in but things have changed since 9/11," said CST Cmdr. Maj. Matt Cooper.
During yesterday's exercise, the FDNY responded to a bus explosion when they realized there were people trapped in a nearby building. Then a suspected biological/chemical attack on the subway system prompted them to call in the Guard to assist.
"We don't consider them guys with guns," said firefighter John Berna, 45. "They are civil support teams - and civil means people. They're here to support us.
"When you get to know these guys by name, it makes for a better working environment."
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