JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - A National Guard member on active-duty orders is now leading the nation's only standing Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear joint services response force. Joint Task Force Civil Support is made up of active-duty military, government civilians, contractors and even National Guard members on active-duty orders.
Army Maj. Gen. Richard Gallant serves as the commanding general of JTF-CS, located at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
"This command has exposed me to different service and component cultures," Gallant said. "Coming from a National Guard background has helped me understand and comprehend the different aspects and traits that each service provides."
Gallant's experience as a National Guard member has given him the opportunity to experience various aspects the Army has to offer, from overseas deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan to helping disaster relief in the homeland.
"I enjoy being able to help my community through the National Guard," said Gallant. "I started out in the Massachusetts Guard and had the great opportunity to help my own community during a blizzard. Then I transferred to Florida and got to help during various hurricanes that struck my community and the surrounding communities as well."
Gallant enjoys the opportunity he's had to work with many units with several generations of family members in the same unit.
"It's really a pleasure to serve alongside so many great, young and talented Americans serving in the National Guard as well as in our active duty force," said Gallant.
JTF-CS anticipates plans and integrates U.S. Northern Command CBRN operations. JTF-CS provides command and control over the Defense CBRN Response Force, a 5,200-personnel team spanning across 30 bases throughout the United States, to assist local, state, federal and tribal partners in saving lives, preventing further injury, and providing critical support to enable community recovery.