Military Sets Up Domestic CBRNE Force

by Mickey McCarter

USNORTHCOM receives first dedicated personnel under plan

The US military command responsible for protecting the continental United States has begun to stand up its first force of dedicated personnel, which will be dedicated to responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats, military commanders announced Tuesday.

US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), based in Colorado Springs, Colo., previously had the ability to assume command of military personnel assigned to it in the event of a disaster within the United States, but it did not have personnel permanently assigned to its command outside of its headquarters staff until now.

The first team assigned to the command is the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Ga. The soldiers become the first of a dedicated CBRNE response force envisioned to total 4,700 servicemembers, according to USNORTHCOM.

"We are now building the first of three CBRNE Consequence Management Forces," USUSNORTHCOM Commander Gen. Gene Renuart said in a statement. "On the first of October, we'll have an organized force, a trained force, an equipped force, a force that has adequate command and control and is on quick response--48 hours--to head off to a large-scale nuclear, chemical, biological event that might require Department of Defense support."

CBRNE Consequence Management Forces are trained to assist with search and rescue, decontamination procedures, medical care or evacuation, aviation support, communications support, and logistical support as required. The forces consist of three task forces--Task Force Operations, Task Force Medical and Task Force Aviation--to support specific mission sets. The 1st Brigade Combat Team establishes the first personnel assigned to Task Force Operations.

USNORTHCOM's Joint Force Land Component Command under US Army North, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, has operational control of the first CBRNE Consequence Management Forces. Another USNORTHCOM component, Joint Task Force Civil Support at Fort Monroe, a., provides the operational headquarters for the forces and coordinates with civil authorities in the event military support is required.

"This response force will not be called upon to help with law enforcement, civil disturbance or crowd control, but will be used to support lead agencies involved in saving lives, relieving suffering and meeting the needs of communities affected by weapons of mass destruction attacks, accidents or even natural disasters," Army Col. Michael Boatner, USNORTHCOM future operations division chief, said.

The USNORTHCOM CBRNE forces augment the capabilities of the National Guard's Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD CSTs), which serve at the state level to provide CBRNE support in the event of a local crisis. The National Guard has established 55 WMD CSTs, placing one in each of the 54 US states and territories except for two in California. Each team is staffed with 22 full-time National Guardsmen who have training in dealing with CBRNE threats.