Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield completed its annual force protection exercise, Stewart Guardian, this week.

The exercise is held “to validate the installation’s emergency response to better prepare us to meet ... real-world threats and challenges should they ever present themselves,” installation public affairs director Ron Elliott said in a Facebook message.

Fort Stewart media chief Kevin Larson said the exercise began with an airplane crash scenario Tuesday at Hunter.

“There were (fictitious) reports of a vapor trail coming out of the woods … which indicated an attack on an Air Force C 130,” he said. The exercise then “rolled over” to Fort Stewart, continuing through Wednesday, Larson said.

“We also had a car explode at a tactical vehicle wash rack by the National Guard Training Center by Donovan Field,” he said. “And we had suicide bombers detonate bombs and go into a building, resulting in a shooter situation.”

Larson said the exercise brings all of the installation’s “moving parts” together, not only to hone their skills in responding to an initial emergency but also in following up after a crisis, such as police securing a site and beginning an investigation.

During the exercise, Hunter’s Rio Gate by Savannah Mall and Fort Stewart’s Gate 5 near the intersection of Gulick and State Highway 144 and 119 temporarily were closed.