64th CST undergoes evaluation

By Douglas Mallary, NMNG Public Affairs

BERNALILLO, N.M. – The 64th Civil Support Team (WMD) completed a Training Proficiency Evaluation May 3-7, 2021.

A team from U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) Joint Land Force Component Command at Joint Base San Antonio (Texas) conducted the evaluation.

Phillippe Kebreau is the Alpha Team Chief for ARNORTH. Alpha Team provides training and oversight for nine states.

Kebreau explained that each of the 57 civil support teams spread out across the states and U.S. territories is required to complete a Training Proficiency Evaluation every 18 months.

“The evaluation primarily looks at the processes for assisting local responders and providing CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) assessment and advice,” Kebreau said. He added that the 64th completed Collective Lane Training last month in preparation for the evaluation.

“This is probably the most important exercise we do,” said Lt. Col. Anthony Lopez, commander of the 64th CST. “This allows us to respond to HAZMAT (hazardous materials) or WMD (weapons of mass destruction) events. This is the culmination. This is where we get certified.”

Although it was a weeklong evaluation, Tuesday and Thursday were the hands-on days.

Scenarios began when Jim Covington, acting as the incident commander for ARNORTH, determined that the necessary response was not available in the local community and requested CST assistance.

Covington’s initial goals included having the CST discover items of interest, identify those materials, and suggest mitigation.

Following briefings between the incident commander and CST leaders, the team gets to work.

Team members receive an entry brief and simulate a walk-through before actual site entry. The site entry itself is methodical. Survey personnel are fully encapsulated in HAZMAT suits and monitor for hazards at every step.

Ambient temperature itself can be a hazard. During the first site entry May 6, the outside temperature was 80 degrees. That can mean an increase of up to 20 degrees inside the suit.

Team members completed a man down drill May 4, during which the standby team rescued a collapsed team member.

Upon exit, the survey team members—assisted by other specialized CST personnel–decontaminate and remove their suits, which are then placed in collection bags.

Even during training missions, CST medical personnel monitor vital statistics of members exiting the site to determine if they can safely perform more site entries that day.

64th CST 1st Sgt. Phillip DePalma demonstrated how the team then creates a computer model to help determine “who is threatened and what treatment/mitigation is needed.”

Covington was pleased with the first site entry Thursday. “The site process looked good. The execution looked good,” he said.

“These guys are the experts,” Lopez said of his team. “They know their areas. They have to.”

Col. Nathaniel Carper, New Mexico Army National Guard chief of staff, observed the exercise May 6.

“We’re grateful to ARNORTH for coming out and letting us show what our CST can do. Our personnel have been motivated all day and appropriately responded to the hazards,” Carper said.

“This is a great opportunity to check the proficiency coming out of the pandemic,” Carper said. “From what I’ve seen in the last couple hours, their skills are as sharp as ever.”

This was the last exercise for Lopez, who will be relinquishing command to Maj. Randall Bates. Following tradition, team members thoroughly doused Lopez with water as he removed his HAZMAT suit for the last time.

“The overall results of the May 2021 Training and Proficiency Evaluation Conducted by ARNORTH were extremely positive for the 64th CST. The team achieved the highest possible rating in all categories and more importantly demonstrated the ability to deploy and conduct their assigned mission with maximum effectiveness,” Bates said.

“As the incoming commander, I look forward to the challenge of maintaining this high level of excellence and will ensure the team remains ready to respond to protect lives and property as directed,” he added.