Army sets up "one-stop shop" for chem-bio response.The six-month-old Guardian Brigade is the Army's first step in creating an organization that will provide soldier and civilian response to chemical and biological accidents and incidents in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. or overseas. Guardian Brigade personnel are trained and equipped to handle a variety of missions, from chem-bio response to explosive ordnance All munitions containing explosives, nuclear fission or fusion materials, and biological and chemical agents. This includes bombs and warheads; guided and ballistic missiles; artillery, mortar, rocket, and small arms ammunition; all mines, torpedoes, and depth charges; demolition charges; recovery. Typically, teams are deployed once first-responder capabilities have either been overwhelmed, or need to be supplemented. "It's a one-stop shop One-Stop Shop A company or a location that offers a multitude of services to a client or a customer. The idea is to provide convenient and efficient service and also to create the opportunity for the company to sell more products to clients and customers. for all the hazards we may have to face," said Col. Timothy Madere, commander of the Guardian Brigade. The concept for the Guardian Brigade grew out of the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or Act of 1996, said Madere. The act provided for military assistance to civilian law enforcement officials in emergency situations involving biological or chemical weapons. Guardian Brigade is stationed temporarily at the Aberdeen Proving Ground Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen, Maryland (in Harford County). The Army's oldest active proving ground, it was established on October 20, 1917, six months after the United States entered World War I. , Md. It reports directly to the Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command. Eventually, the organization will answer to Forces Command, at Fort McPherson, Ga., and it will undergo a name change to the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear High Yield Explosive (CBRNE CBRNE Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive CBRNE chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives (US DoD) CBRNE Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Enhanced Conventional Weapons ) command, he said. No date has been set for the change. "Folks in the Guardian Brigade will transfer over to CBRNE," said Madere. "There are a couple hundred people at headquarters now. It will change, based on new requirements. It's a moving target." Madere said one challenge facing the command is recruiting. Some of those already in the ranks of the Guardian Brigade came out of the Army Technical Escort Unit. Madere was the TEU TEU Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (intermodal shipping container) TEU Technical Escort Unit TEU Technical Escort Unit (Army) TEU Tactical Enforcement Unit TEU Treaty of European Union commander before moving into his current post. A General Officer Steering Committee will provide oversight during the concept, definition and planning process, said Madere. Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, Army chief of staff, will have the final say on the plan. In addition to the TEU, the Guardian Brigade will absorb the 52nd Ordnance Group, located at Fort Gillem, Ga. |
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