Photo By Brian Dietrick | U.S. Navy Capt. William Hurst, command surgeon, Joint Task Force Civil Support, and...... read more read more
CAMP DAWSON, W.Va.— No one can foretell when a disaster may strike, but Joint Task Force Civil Support (JTF-CS) out of Fort Eustis, Va., stays prepared to respond to domestic chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.
During Exercise Sudden Response 14, approximately 200 service members, Department of Defense civilians and civilian contractors deployed to Camp Dawson from May 12-16 in response to a simulated nuclear incident in Arlington, Va. The exercise is an annual command post exercise for JTF-CS to test procedures and collaborative efforts while activating the Defense CBRN Response Force (DCRF) allocated forces.
Camp Dawson’s gym was transformed into the joint operation center. With rows of tables topped with computers, JTF-CS personnel performed tasks pertinent to the success of the exercise.
Exercise Sudden Response tested the movement and capability of JTF-CS in terms of equipment, personnel and the tactical standard operating procedures (TACSOP) during a CBRN incident in the homeland. JTF-CS and the DCRF are called into action in a supporting role to civil authorities.
“What’s nice about the event this year, we just published a revised tactical standing operating procedure,” said Marine Col. David Olszowy, JTF-CS deputy commander. “This is the first time we have had to actually validate those procedures in a command post exercise.”
Consequently, the exercise validated JTF-CS headquarters and command and control processes against a set timeline, called the N-Hour Sequence.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Lynn Borel, chief of Future Operations, described it as a planning model.
“The N-hour sequence is a plan to understand how or when we expect forces to arrive. It’s intended for us to use as a tool for understanding when capabilities (are in place).”
JTF-CS and the DCRF provide a variety of life-saving and sustaining response capabilities which is focused around six core capabilities: identification and detection, search and extraction, decontamination, medical triage and stabilization, and medical evacuations.
While Exercise Sudden Response tests the JTF-CS headquarters element, Exercise Vibrant Response will test the entire DCRF in July which consists of approximately 5,200 personnel.
JTF-CS anticipates, plans and prepares for chemical, biological, radiological and Nuclear Defense Support of Civil Authorities (CBRN-DSCA) response operations and although CBRN incident is the command’s primary focus. The unit also has the expertise and training to respond to natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes and is the DoD’s only standing Joint Task Force. The right force, the right response with the right expertise.
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2014 10:21 |
| Story ID: | 130264 |
| Location: | CAMP DAWSON AIR FORCE RESERVE CENTER, WEST VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 402 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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