MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
NEWS RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kryn P. Westhoven at 609-530-6950 office

609-847-2215 cell

WHAT: A unique 22-member New Jersey National Guard WMD unit undergoes evaluation of its abilities to respond to terror attacks at home and detect weapons of mass destruction.

 

WHO: The 21st Civil Support Team for Weapons of Mass Destruction based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

 

WHERE: Fire Department New York Fire Training Center at Randalls Island, New York City

 

WHEN: Thursday, June 10, (Best time for visual coverage opportunities is between 9 and 11 a.m.)

 

News organizations are invited to cover the exercise and interview participants. Photo opportunities will include National Guard members donning Level A protective suits and inspecting targeted buildings for possible contamination, taking samples, undergoing decontamination and coordinating with civil authorities.

 

Background: Civil Support Teams are specialized units comprised of 22 full time Army and Air National Guard professionals uniquely trained and equipped to respond to possible terrorist attacks or other events where chemical, biological, radiological or high yield explosive agents may have been used. On order, these units rapidly mobilize and deploy to communities to work for the civil authorities and for the civilian Incident Commander to detect the presence of contamination, identify it and assist with follow on support.

 

The CST program has grown such that there is a team in every state across the nation thus providing local support for possible terrorist attacks or industrial accidents with highly trained staff and state of the art capabilities. CSTs routinely conduct joint exercises with civilian fire departments and emergency response agencies.