Georgia's Joint Task Force 781 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package - known as JTF 781st CERFP -- has received NGB's seal of approval following a week long intensive evaluation in September.

National Guard Bureau examiners rated the JTF 781st among the best of the nation's new CERFP organizations. In fact, of the sixteen critical measures leading toward certification, JTF 781st received zero “no go’s” , signifying that every required tasks were trained to standard.

"This accomplishment is especially significant when you realize that we have been working together for little more than six months,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Allen, commander of the 781st. “We are now prepared to accomplish our homeland defense mission, and also our wartime mission”.

More than 280 Georgia Air and Army National Guardsmen were exposed to a myriad of emergencies situations during the week-long exercise from bomb threats to chemical explosions to radiological accidents, to search and extraction incidences, and natural disasters.

Georgia's CERFP is composed of the JTF 781st CERFP Battalion out of Kennesaw, 877th Engineer Company of Augusta, the 4th Civil Support Team from Dobbins ARB, 138th Chemical Company of Kennesaw, 202nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit of Marietta, the 248th Medical Company of Marietta, and the 116th Medical Detachment Group of the Georgia Air National Guard at Warner Robins AFB.

The TAG received the results of the CERFP evaluation from Army North and will soon request validation from the Chief of NGB.

Once officially validated, JTF 781st becomes Georgia’s rapid response organization and is now ready to respond to emergencies which may occur throughout the Southeastern U.S. The task force covers an eight-state southeast region for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. It can also be deployed internationally.