An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Oct. 25, 2019

Pa. Guard evaluated on weapons of mass destruction response

By Lt. Col. Angela King-Sweigart Joint Force Headquarters, Pennsylvania National Guard

SCRANTON, Pa. – The Pennsylvania National Guard 3rd Weapons of Mass Destruction civil support team was evaluated for its ability to identify nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological contaminants.

The exercise this week involved two scenarios. At Clark Summit State Hospital, there was a simulated biological threat involving cholera. At Steam Town National Historic Park, a suspicious box truck was making people ill and was found to contain radiological contaminants. The 18 Soldiers and four Airmen were expected to respond quickly, identify the causes and prevent the contaminants from spreading.

"We have a bunch of different sections. You have your command section, you have your operations section, logistics, decon, medical, analytical and our survey section," said Maj. Frank Brown, commander of the unit.

The team's response was evaluated by Jay B. Norris of Army North command, which monitors 54 of the 57 National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction civil support teams nationwide.

"Today's training is going well," he said.

The team is a unique unit in the Pennsylvania National Guard. All members are highly trained, full-time, on-call with an advance team that can respond in 90 minutes, according to Army Brig. Gen. David Wood, director of the Pennsylvania National Guard's joint staff.

"The CST team is a critical part of our domestic response," Wood said. "They continue to be on call. We've received calls that are scheduled and unscheduled. They can be utilized by the local community as well as the state and national level."

"This is the greatest job I've ever had and I'll probably stay with it until I retire," said Air Force Maj. Jacob Derivan, the 3rd Weapons of Mass Destruction deputy commander and science officer.

Those assisting with the exercise included the Environmental Protection Agency, County of Lackawanna, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Army North and the 5th Weapons of Mass Destruction civil support team out of Illinois.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air National Guard civilian firefighters, assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, pose in front of the fire truck that was the first on scene, South Burlington, VT, June 4, 2025. These firefighters provided the first fire truck on scene to a local fire.
Vermont Air Guard First on Scene of South Burlington Fire
By Airman Raymond LaChance, | June 4, 2025
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Doireann Chesbrough, a civilian firefighter for the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, was sitting next to the radio in the dayroom of the station as the sun began to set over the Green...

Paratroopers from the Colorado National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces stand together before the first joint Colorado-Jordan airborne Friendship Jump, Watkins, Colorado, April 23, 2025. Members parachuted from a CH-47 Chinook as part of an event to strengthen interoperability and deepen the partnership between the two forces.
Airborne Operation Strengthens Colorado Guard, Jordan Partnership
By Senior Airman Melissa Escobar-Pereira, | June 4, 2025
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – In a display of cooperation and capability, Soldiers from the Colorado Army National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces recently conducted a joint airborne operation in Watkins, Colorado.The April 23...

Army Guard Soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission, also known as KFOR, host a multinational non-commissioned officer academy, referred to as the Jungleer Academy, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, May 8, 2025. 11 Sergeants Major from seven countries shared their experience with the soldiers, and many nations showcased their weapons, gear, vehicles and took a flight or hoisted in the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
Army Guard Soldiers in Kosovo Host Inaugural Event for Non-Commissioned Officers
By Sgt. Cheryl Madolev, | June 4, 2025
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – National Guard Soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission recently hosted an inaugural multinational event for non-commissioned officers (NCOs), focusing on...