NJ Civil Support Team evaluates WMD response in exercise

New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from the 21st Weapons of Mass of Destruction Civil Support Team and evaluators from U.S. Army North listen to a mission briefing during a weapons of mass destruction response exercise at the Cherry Hill Armory in Cherry Hill, N.J., June 3, 2015. The 21st Civil Support Team is made up of both Army and Air National Guard members, and is located on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released)

NJ Civil Support Team evaluates WMD response in exercise

U.S. Army Sgt. Nick Lam from the New Jersey National Guard's 21st Weapons of Mass of Destruction Civil Support Team scans a building for radioactive material during a weapons of mass destruction response exercise at the Cherry Hill Armory in Cherry Hill, N.J., June 3, 2015. The 21st Civil Support Team is made up of both Army and Air National Guard members, and is located on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released)

NJ Civil Support Team evaluates WMD response in exercise

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Whalen from the New Jersey National Guard's 21st Civil Support Team pulls a wagon filled with detection gear during a weapons of mass destruction response exercise at the Cherry Hill Armory in Cherry Hill, N.J., June 3, 2015. The 21st Civil Support Team is made up of both Army and Air National Guard members, and is located on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released)

NJ Civil Support Team evaluates WMD response in exercise

Published June 10, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - -- The New Jersey National Guard's 21st Civil Support Team kicked off an evaluation exercise June 3, 2015 here.

As part of the exercise, the team was alerted to a weapons of mass destruction scenario during an event at the Cherry Hill Armory in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

The 21st Civil Support Team is one of 10 WMD teams established to rapidly deploy to assist local incident commanders, provide expert advice on WMD response and to support the arrival of follow-on state and federal military units.

The no-notice training is part of strict validation process, with their certification exercise coming early next year. Defense Department civilians from U.S. Army North were on hand to evaluate and educate the team.

"The evaluators are playing the role of the Cherry Hill Fire Department," said U.S. Army North member Ricky Martin. "The civil support team will be in a support role assisting the local authorities in detecting any hazardous materials. We'll be looking at that whole process."

After setting up the tactical operations center, the team had a safety and mission brief, and suited up to enter the hot zone scanning for hazards.

"It's a fully encapsulated suit, so it gets pretty hot," said Sgt. Christopher Maude, 21st Civil Support Team member. "With body heat plus near 100 percent humidity, it can get so wet in the suit it looks like it's raining."

Despite the hardships of being in the suit for extended periods of time, Maude finds the experience of being part of the 21st Civil Support Team to be rewarding.

"It makes me feel really proud to know that myself and my team members, should the time come, we can go and help the civilian responders or whoever else needs us, to make sure our communities are safe," said Maude.

"It is a proud and humbling experience."