ANDOVER, N.J. – Members of the 21st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) are training fellow members of the New Jersey National Guard and civilians across the state how to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) properly to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Headquartered out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the unit’s normal mission is to support civil authorities at domestic Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear high-yield Explosives (CBRNE) incidents.
WMD-CST members receive more than 650 hours of HAZMAT and high-tech training from agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency.
“We’ve been sending unit members to long-term health care facilities and drive-thru testing-sites to ensure that Soldiers, Airmen and civilians are properly wearing – donning and doffing as well as sanitizing – their PPE to protect themselves and the civilians that we are supporting,” said Sgt. 1st Class William Camp, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 21st WMD-CST.
The CST has also been conducting an N95 mask test on Soldiers, Airmen and civilians that verifies the proper fit and effectiveness of each individual mask.
“We introduce a sample into the air that can be tasted or smelled, then we have them don their mask and introduce a stronger sample to see if they can still taste it in the air. If they cannot, they have passed the fit test; if they can, then they need to get a different size or change the mask,” explained Camp.
The 21st WMD-CST has conducted approximately 550 mask fitting tests and trained 300 people in the proper use of PPE in seven locations around the state.
“I enjoy doing my part to come out and help the state as we respond to this pandemic,” said Camp. “It makes me feel really good to see my Soldiers going out and fit-testing all the Soldiers and Airmen that are on the front lines working at these facilities and test sites, to ensure their safety so when they go home to their families, they go home safely.”