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    81st Civil Support Team Soldiers Receive Air Force Medals For Missile Recovery Response

    81st Civil Support Team Soldiers Receive Air Force Medals

    Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. David A. Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general,...... read more read more

    UNITED STATES

    12.16.2008

    Courtesy Story

    North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs

    By the North Dakota National Guard

    BISMARCK, N.D. — Five members of the 81st Civil Support Team received the Air Force Achievement Medal, Dec. 15, for supporting the 91st Missile Wing, Minot Air Force Base, during an accident involving a three-stage booster of a Minuteman III missile earlier this year. Typically, each branch awards its own medals, which makes Army Soldiers receiving an Air Force award a distinct honor.

    Sgt. 1st Class Phil Engmann, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Jennens, Sgt. 1st Class Brian Messmer, Sgt. William Miller and Sgt. Jamie Roaldson received the award for their work in the recovery response of an overturned 74,000-pound Transporter Erector containing a 70,000-pound three-stage booster of a Minuteman III missile near Makoti, N.D., while being transported in August.

    According to the award citation, the Soldiers' leadership during the nine-day deployment enabled the on-scene commanders to have vital command and control and real-time weather data during the assessment and recovery phases following the accident. While on site, the Soldiers provided telephone lines and high-speed internet access, which allowed personnel to communicate during the recovery.

    "We work in a joint environment, training and partnering with other military branches and civilian authorities as needed. This incident is a great example of that collaboration, with Guardsmen assisting active-duty Air Force," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general. "Our CST has proven itself time and again, showing its flexibility and depth of skills in responding to everything from hazardous materials spilled in Texas during Hurricane Ike to assisting at the Republican National Convention to helping with missile recovery."

    Col. Lyman Faith, commander of the 91st Maintenance Group at Minot Air Force Base, presented the awards and said "The response from the 81st CST was instrumental in the recovery efforts."

    "Our CST trains hard in order to be prepared when called upon to respond with emergency assistance," said Lt. Col. Larry Shireley, commander of the CST. "We are fortunate to have highly skilled and motivated Guardsmen working effectively together with other emergency responders."
    North Dakota's Civil Support Team is one of 55 teams across the United States and its territories. Twenty Soldiers and two Airmen are on call in Bismarck and can be en route to support civil authorities within 90 minutes.

    The 81st CST is primarily designed to augment local and regional terrorism response capabilities in events known or suspected to involve weapons of mass destruction. WMD events are incidents involving hostile use of chemicals (such as nerve or blister agent), biological (for example, anthrax) or radiological agents. Specifically, the CST deploys to an area of operations to support civil authorities at an incident site by identifying agents and substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response measures, and responding to requests for assistance to expedite arrival of additional state and federal assets to help save lives, prevent human suffering, and mitigate great property damage.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.16.2008
    Date Posted: 12.16.2008 19:53
    Story ID: 27781
    Location: US

    Web Views: 138
    Downloads: 97

    PUBLIC DOMAIN