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31st Civil Support Team (WMD)
Encyclopedia
The 31st Civil Support Team is a Civil Support Team
organized as a unit of the Delaware Army National Guard
. The unit is headquartered at Smyrna, Delaware.
The 31st Civil Support Team, Weapons of Mass Distruction (WMD) maintains the capability to mitigate the consequences of any WMD/NBC event, whether natural or man-made. They are experts in WMD effects and NBC
defense operations. The CST supports local and state authorities at domestic WMD/NBC incident sites by identifying agents and substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response
measures, and assisting with requests for additional military support.
The mission of the CST is to assess a suspected WMD attack, advise civilian responders on appropriate actions through on-site testing and expert consultation, and facilitate the arrival of additional state and
federal military forces.
As the CST is on standby 24/7, the advanced echelon will deploy within 90 minutes of notification and the rest of the team within three hours. This quick response gives the CST the ability to support the incident
commander with critical information rapidly. The CST Commander can advise the incident commander as to the type and level of hazard present, possible courses of action, and additional National Guard assets that are available.
Civil Support Team
A Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team advises civilian responders in the event of a suspected weapon of mass destruction attack. A CST is a federally funded National Guard unit established under Presidential Decision Directive 39. There are 57 fulltime teams: one in every U.S...
organized as a unit of the Delaware Army National Guard
Delaware Army National Guard
The Delaware National Guard comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a...
. The unit is headquartered at Smyrna, Delaware.
WMD-CST capabilities
The CST provides assessments and a presumptive identification to analyze most chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive(CBRNE) agents and substances.The 31st Civil Support Team, Weapons of Mass Distruction (WMD) maintains the capability to mitigate the consequences of any WMD/NBC event, whether natural or man-made. They are experts in WMD effects and NBC
defense operations. The CST supports local and state authorities at domestic WMD/NBC incident sites by identifying agents and substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response
measures, and assisting with requests for additional military support.
The mission of the CST is to assess a suspected WMD attack, advise civilian responders on appropriate actions through on-site testing and expert consultation, and facilitate the arrival of additional state and
federal military forces.
As the CST is on standby 24/7, the advanced echelon will deploy within 90 minutes of notification and the rest of the team within three hours. This quick response gives the CST the ability to support the incident
commander with critical information rapidly. The CST Commander can advise the incident commander as to the type and level of hazard present, possible courses of action, and additional National Guard assets that are available.