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Nevada Guard’s Civil Support Team, critical asset for domestic response, passes federal evaluation

  • Published
  • By Capt. Emerson Marcus
  • Nevada National Guard Joint Force Headquarters

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Nevada residents can rest easily knowing one of the most versatile and professional military outfits in the Silver State passed its eighteen month evaluation last week. The 92nd Weapons of Mass Destruction, Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) underwent its training proficiency evaluation through U.S. Army North (USARNORTH) this week.

The unit completed a “fully trained” performance on all collected tasks and met all objectives, said Nevada Air Guard Lt. Col. Jami Cavins, 92nd WMD-CST commander.

The evaluation, conducted every 18-24 months, included 12 collective tasks and more than 70 critical associated tasks, she said.

“The Soldiers and Airman of the 92nd WMD-CST demonstrated outstanding professionalism, esprit de corps and physical fitness while conducting operations in support of civil authorities,” Cavins said. “This unit trains to respond and adapt to a variety of high-pressure domestic response scenarios, working seamlessly with federal, state and local jurisdictions as an all-encompassing force for high stakes detection, identification and prevention.”

The USARNORTH Training Proficiency Evaluation assessed the team’s ability to respond during domestic terrorist incidents involving Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) detection and identification.  The team identified hazards using handheld instruments as well as integrating mobile laboratory capabilities using its Analytical Laboratory Suite.   

Scenarios included a clandestine laboratory making mustard gas, weaponized anthrax dispersal and a radiological threat known as Cesium-137. Scenarios started at the Nevada Air National Guard Base in Reno and finished Thursday at the Office of the Adjutant General (OTAG) complex in Carson City.

Providing the Incident Commander with communication resources, advising on response measures such as evacuation perimeters, containment, decontamination, mitigation, medical treatment and public health outreach strategies are also critical tasks performed by the unit, Cavins said.

“Receiving a fully trained assessment provides credibility and validity to National Guard Bureau and Congress that the Nevada Civil Support Team is prepared and capable of continuing to respond to domestic threats throughout the region and will continue to uphold high standards of readiness and response,” she said.

Some of the recent requests for service of the 92nd WMD-CST included the Davis, Caughlin and Caldor fires along with support for large scale events, such as the Electric Daisy Carnival this spring and the Super Bowl in Las Vegas last year. The 92nd also receives various CBRN inspection requests to support law enforcement, including a recent call to the Desert Research Institute for a report of suspicious package received at the university campus.

Established within the Nevada Guard in 2004, the nearly two dozen Soldiers and Airmen in the 92nd remain ready to deploy and assist first responders with identification of unknown chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) materials. The team of Hazardous Materials Technicians also provides subject matter expertise to civilian counterparts regarding medical and public safety effects of hazardous materials.