CBRNE Detection A WMD attack is arguably the single greatest threat to the United States homeland. One of the primary reasons that is so is because CBRNE weapons are difficult to respond to and are even more difficult detect. CBRNE weapons can come in many different shapes, sizes, and consistencies. The weapons can be in a liquid, solid or gaseous state and the technologies needed to detect and respond with are very expensive. Each individual threat that comprises the term CBRNE is very different. Therefore, each threat requires a different type of detection equipment. A basic piece of chemical detection equipment needs to be able to detect nerve, blood, blister, lewisite, TICs, TIMS, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and Hydrogen Sulfide …show more content…
The response capabilities of the United States government agencies and Department of Defense is relatively diverse and capable. Most federal, state, local, and tribal agencies, and non-governmental organizations have some sort of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) or CBRNE team established. However, not all of the HAZMAT and CBRNE teams are created equal and have plenty of room for improvement. According to Mauroni (2010), “in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the former Defense Secretary William Cohen’s intense interest in consequence management led to the concept of National Guard WMD Civil Support Teams to assist state and local emergency responders” (p.60). The National Guards Civil Support Teams are the subject matter experts in CBRNE detection, response, and decontamination and they devout a lot of time, energy, and resources into training the first responders on the proper response procedures for a CBRNE terror …show more content…
The first responder community as a whole needs to understand how to properly identify the difference between a CBRNE incidents as opposed to a normal incident. The health departments across the nation also need to increase their knowledge of how to properly respond to a CBRNE incident because if they do not they could worsen or spread the contamination. The Department of Defense assets should continue to be called upon to support and train civil authorities in CBRNE defense, response, and
One weapon used in the Civil War is a Sharps Carbine. It was developed primarily for Calvary, because of the shorter barrel. They were much easier to handle on horse back than their longer brother the Breech-Loader. Sharps were preferred because they could be loaded on a moving horse, something virtually impossible with a Muzzle-Loader. Also, Breech-Loaders carbine which fired moisture proof metallic cartridges, where more reliable than rifles that fired paper cartridges. As I said be fore it is easier to load a Sharps than a Muzzle-Loader. A Muzzle-Loader took 9 long hard steps just to fire one shot. Even the most skilled solder could only get three rounds off in a minute on the old Civil War Muzzle-Loader. And No wonder. After each shot you have to (1) steady the gun on the ground take out a new cartridge out of a belt pouch. (2) Tear open a piece of paper with your teeth. (3) Empty the powder in the barrel and insert a bullet in to the muzzle. (4) Draw the long “rummer” out of its carrying groove under the barrel. (5) ram the bullet all the way down. (6) Return the rod back to its groove. (7) Lift the weapon half-cocked the hammer. (8) Fully cock the hammer, aim, and finally,(9) fire.
History has proven the use of chemical weapons ranging back for decades. From the Greeks in ancient Europe using Greek fire to South American tribes using a form of tear gas made of grounded up hot chili peppers to scare away enemy tribes. As well as dipping the tips of spear heads with a poisonous toxin. Poisonous toxins used from live reptiles like frogs and venom from the snakes found from whichever region had enough potency venom to exterminate. The past has proven, that in order for Armies to survive and win, it relied on out smarting the enemy. New technologies and the evolution of weaponry were left to the brightest minds from those eras to develop.
National Missile Defense (NMD) is an extremely complex land-based ballistic missile system with the sole purpose of defending the United States against a ballistic missile attack from a foreign country. The NMD architecture consists of five main components.
Wright III, B. (1998, November). The Chemical Warfare Service Prepares for World War II. Retrieved from http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/NovDec98/MS274.htm
Each Special Operations Force group is assigned two specialized Chemical, Biological, Radiological (CBRN) units to perform reconnaissance and decontamination operations. The Special Operations Chemical Response Detachment (CRD) is responsible for conducting chemical reconnaissance in secrecy, ...
"Federation of American Scientists :: Types of Chemical Weapons." Federation of American Scientists. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2010.
The National Response Framework is a guide designed to assist local, State, and Federal governments in developing functional capabilities and identifying resources based on hazard identification and risk assessment. It outlines the operating structure and identifies key roles and responsibilities. It established a framework to identify capabilities based on resources and the current situation no matter the size or scale. It integrates organizational structures and standardizes how the Nation at all levels plans to react to incidents. The suspected terrorist attack will have health, economic, social, environment and political long-term effects for my community. This is why it is essential that local government’s response is coordinate with all responders. Response doctrine is comprised of five key principles: (1) engaged partnership, (2) tiered response, (3) scalable, flexible, and adaptable operational capabilities, (4) unity of effort through unified command, and (5) readiness to act. An introductory word about each follows. (Homeland Security, 2008)
For the purpose of this literary review the above incidents show a history of reliability when it comes to the National Guard. They are willing to act on facets of both state and federal orders and are able to maintain an organized hierarchy when doing so. The National Guard will be ready to respond due to being “forward-deployed in thousands of communities across the United States” (CNGR 2008, 9). Once again the National Guard Bureau outlines this in ten points: aviation and airlift, command and control, CBRNE response, engineering, medical, communications, transportation, security, logistics, and maintenance (NGB 2008, 7). All of which are significant when it comes to emergency response.
Clark, D. K. (1959). Effectiveness of chemical weapons in WWI. Bethesda, Md.: Operations Research Office, Johns Hopkins University.
Gaining a better understanding of what exactly my hospital is dealing with will determine the appropriate course of action. Did the explosion send poisonous chemicals into the air or are the patients simply having a reaction from smoke? As the incident commander on duty it is my responsibility to implement the three key strategies of disaster response; protect and preserve life, stabilize the disaster scene, and protect and preserve property. I will also begin implementation of the hospital’s emergency operation plan. Although I have not yet established the cause of illness in the patients, it is important to treat the incident as a potential mass disaster situation. I will proceed with implementing the “3 C’s” of incident leadership; coordination, communication, and cooperation (Reilly & Markenson, 2011). Effective management of this crisis weighs heavily on my ability to coordinate, communicate, and cooperate not only
FM 4-02.285, Multiservice Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for Treatment of Chemical Agent Casualties and Conventional Military Chemical Injuries (2007, CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response, (2003, April 3). This page includes links September 18), Headquarters, Department of the Army
The Technical Escort Unit (TEU) now provides the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to include the Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with an immediate response capability for chemical and biological warfare material. Its mission is to provide a global response for escorting, packaging, detection, rendering-safe, disposing, sampling, analytics, and remediation missions. This does not only include chemical weapons for which it was originally created, but now incorporates biological weapons, state sponsored laboratories, small independent laboratories and small non-weaponized radioactive materials. Most recently, they have been task organized to assist Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) as a force multiplier; the objective of this is to give the Battle Field Commander instant on the ground intelligence regarding Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) hazards within their Area of Operations (AO). With this new mission with the BCT, the TEU is becoming an expeditionary force.
NIMS provides a uniform nationwide basis and way for federal, state, tribal, and local governments, along with the public to work on preparedness, recovery, response and mitigation no matter what causes an event. With all organizations using the same application, effective and efficient responses are possible. Organizations will be able to arrive on the scene and be ready to assist and understand exactly what each group is doing and why. Protocols are set and it is known what equipment and personnel are available. With NIMS all groups are able to integrate und...
Any single organization or group cannot solve hazardous materials response planning successfully. Rather it must be accomplished through the efforts of local, state, and Federal authorities and in cooperation with the private sector.
Waterman, Shaun. "Obama Hits Pause on U.S. Action in Face of Crippling Cyber Strikes from Syria, Iran." Washington Times 28 Aug. 2013. Print. (Source B)