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ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Brig. Gen. William E. King IV, commander, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, met with leaders from NATO’s Joint CBRN Center of Excellence (COE) in Vyskov, Czech Republic on May 27.
“In today’s world with the threat of CBRNE weapons it is critical we keep the lines of communication open between the JCBRN Center of Excellence and the 20th CBRNE Command,” said King. “Because when it comes to dealing with CBRN hazards in military operations, NATO is a critical partner that we will work alongside in an operation.”
During King’s visit, he toured the modeling and simulation facility, live agent training complex, as well as a tour of the COE Reach back facility.
"The JCBRN COE is a world class facility providing opportunities for NATO nations to receive training, education, and provide a repository for lessons learned which is critical when it comes to operating against CBRN hazards,” King added after the tour.
King is the first member from the 20th CBRNE Command to visit the JCBRN Center of Excellence.
He told the leadership of the JCBRN that this will not be the last visit from the 20th CBRNE Command and looks forward to future cooperation with them.
The JCBRN COE is a NATO-accredited center focused on developing CBRN defense doctrines, and enhancing interoperability and capabilities among the NATO allies.
Also during King's trip to Europe, he attended a North Atlantic Treaty Organization's table top exercise on Disablement where 21 of the 28 member nations participated.
This tabletop exercise allowed NATO nations to come together to test and validate disablement concepts and procedures.
“Contrary to popular belief, we are not solely focused on Korea,” King said. “This command operates globally, and on any given day you can find members from the 20th working in multiple countries around the globe from Seoul to Panama and Kosovo to Afghanistan. We are providing our capabilities and expertise worldwide, and in Europe it is essential we work together with our NATO allies to develop a stronger and more comprehensive approach to today's evolving WMD and CBRN threats.”
The 20th CBRNE Command is proactive in building upon relationships with NATO allies, hosting the U.K. Army EOD and German CBRN organizations.
“From operations in Bosnia to Libya, over 90 percent of the nation’s participating with the U.S. come from Europe,” King added. “That is why it is critical we continue to work both bi-laterally and through NATO with the Joint CBRN Defense Centre of Excellence and the Combined Joint CBRN Defense Task Force to help build their capabilities in the CBRN and WMD fields ensuring they are prepared to counter the CBRNE threat.”
With units on 19 posts in 16 states, the Aberdeen Proving Ground-based 20th CBRNE Command is the Defense Department's only multifunctional formation that combats global chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats. The one-of-a-kind command trains with joint, interagency and allied partners around the world.
| Date Taken: | 06.28.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2016 09:43 |
| Story ID: | 206497 |
| Location: | ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 101 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, King visits NATO's CBRN Center of Excellence, by LTC Ryan Donald, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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