Fort Eustis-based task force tests readiness for domestic 'complex catastrophe'

Photo By James Goodwin | Staff members from Joint Task Force Civil Support load sea bags as part of a deployment readiness exercise, April 16, 2013, here. The four-day exercise was designed to further test the unit’s ability to rapidly respond to a catastrophic event – such as a chemical spill or nuclear detonation - in the homeland. When directed, JTF-CS provides command and control of some 5,200 federal military forces-known as the Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Response Force, located at more than 36 locations throughout the U.S. It also plans for and responds to catastrophic chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear catastrophes in the homeland in support of federal, state and local authorities. This week’s exercise is part of a “crawl, walk, run” process JTF-CS is undertaking this year in an effort to validate its ability to respond quickly and, ultimately, enable the Response Force to save lives. To that end, JTF-CS will further validate its response capabilities and procedures next month during Sudden Response, a command post exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, Va. (Official DoD photo by Gunnery Sgt. Jim Goodwin)  

FORT EUSTIS, VA, UNITED STATES

04.23.2013

Story by Capt. Dianna Pegeuese 

Joint Task Force Civil Support

FORT EUSTIS, Va. — Joint Task Force Civil Support conducted a deployment readiness exercise, April 15-19, 2013, to test the unit’s ability to deploy on short notice to anywhere in the U.S. in response to a catastrophic “no notice” event, such as a nuclear detonation or biological hazard.

The Fort Eustis, Va.-based unit measured its deployment procedures and processes to both identify any logistical or capabilities shortfalls and validate its response timelines in an effort to minimize the time needed to respond in the event of an actual incident in the U.S.

Ultimately, the four-day event allowed JTF-CS to streamline its response procedures and processes in support of its primary mission in saving lives, preventing further injury, and providing critical support to enable community recovery.

“Part of why we are doing this is to go through our deployment processes and identify space and equipment requirements,” said U.S. Marine Col. David Olszowy, deputy commander, Joint Task Force Civil Support. “This is the opportunity to validate load plans and movement and establish confirmation with response times, to ensure we can respond quickly.”

Last year, JTF-CS oversaw about 1,400 military responders following Hurricane Sandy’s landfall in New York and New Jersey. JTF-CS has spent the six months since then practicing and validating its response processes in the event of a complex chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear event in the U.S., such as a nuclear detonation or chemical spill.

After notification of a simulated catastrophic incident, the 120-plus person joint task force loaded trucks and vans, some 130 short tons of equipment and supplies, conducted deployment processing procedures and briefs, and established an operations center complete with communications capabilities at a hangar at Felker Army Airfield.

Throughout the deployment process, no steps were cut, gear left behind or actions simulated in order to provide unit planners a more accurate assessment of exactly how much time is needed to deploy JTF-CS – a critical factor to the unit’s response mission.

Ultimately, this week’s exercise was one of several JTF-CS will conduct as it prepares for two summer exercises that will further validate the unit’s ability to effectively respond to a “no notice” event, enabling the some 5,200 military responders it would oversee during a response to save lives. To that end, JTF-CS will further validate its response capabilities and procedures next month during Sudden Response, a command post exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, Va.

“Once we have identified these shortfalls, it will improve the level of readiness for Sudden Response and Vibrant Response,” said U.S. Army Maj. Brent Middleton, a JTF-CS operations officer.

JTF-CS, a multi-service component command for U.S. Northern Command, must be ready to deploy to any area in the U.S. to provide support in the event of a man-made or natural disaster, according to the unit’s commander, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeff W. Mathis III.

“We could be called out to do our mission at any time,” said Mathis.

Mathis emphasized to JTF-CS staff at week’s end the importance of practicing the deployment process, citing that the time to prepare and perfect response procedures is before an incident occurs.

“We have to be trained, equipped and ready to go on a moment’s notice,” he said.

• Date Taken: 04.23.2013
• Date Posted: 04.23.2013 15:12
• Story ID: 105686
• Location: FORT EUSTIS, VA, US