From the left Lt. Daryl Reeves and Fire Fighter Aaron Lasenyik with Cobb County Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials unit watch Sgt. Ryan Schwartz, a survey team member with Georgia’s 4th Civil Support Team remove protective clothing after having gone through the CST’s decontamination station. (Georgia National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry)

State, local responders get pointers from CST

 DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE – Georgia’s 4th Civil Support Team conducted classes and hands-on training, Sept. 16-18, with representatives from several local, state and federal agencies.

 The Guard’s 202nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit and 138th Chemical Company,  also took part, along with two Soldiers from Florida’s soon-to-be stood up 48th CST.

 Outside organizations participating were Cobb County and Calhoun-Gordon County hazardous material teams, Georgia Public Health, Georgia State Patrol, GBI Special Operations and Georgia Emergency Management Agency, and U.S. Sky Marshal Service. Also there were groups from Army North who evaluate the CST’s training and Dugway Proving Grounds in New Mexico to assist in the training.

 Dugway, is one of the nation’s two biological and chemical agent research and test facilities, said Maj. Darrin Smith, the CST’s commander.   

 Smith said that normally he and his unit would – and still do – travel to Dugway for much of their instruction and training, especially when that training requires the use of live agents. Training such as what the CST put on locally doesn’t, and by bringing subject matter experts from Dugway to Georgia, is gives the unit the opportunity to work more closely with the agencies that will call on it for help.

 “It gives us a chance to showcase our skills and equipment and, at the same time, allow the agencies to pickup things that may help them improve on what they’re already doing,” Smith said.

 Using what was once the Army Corps of Engineers building just outside Dobbins proper, the CST set up the scenario of suspects with terrorist ties having established a bio-chemical lab and production facility. As the training played out, EOD experts searched for booby traps before a survey team went in to find the lab and any contaminants the suspects may have had.

 Fire Capt. Rick Bennett, with Cobb Hazardous Materials, said that one of the things his team found interesting during decontamination is the way the CST disposes of the survey team’s bio-chemical suits.

 After having received a scrub down and rinse, a team member steps into a large, heavy plastic drum liner and strips his suit off. He then steps out and heads for the last station for a final decontamination check and removes his protective mask and breathing apparatus.

Meanwhile, a decontamination team member seals the drum liner holding the suit and sets it aside for disposal.

 “This is the first time we’ve seen it done this way,” Bennett said as he and his team watched. “The process we follow with our suits works, but this – we believe – most likely is a better way to do that.”

 s the 4th CST continues to improve on its training and the scenarios it uses, it intends to involve more and more the civilian agencies that will call on it for assistance. There’s no better way said, Capt. Alan Hammond, the unit’s executive officer, than this to increase their understanding of what the 4th does, and at the same time, provide them the opportunity to improve their own techniques.

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