07.27.01

Senator Maria Cantwell Congratulates Washington National Guard

Weapons of Mass Destruction response team established in Tacoma

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today congratulated the Washington National Guard for having one of the nation's first Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD-CST). Based at Camp Murray in Tacoma, the 10th WMD Civil Support Team will be one of 27 such teams authorized by the Secretary of Defense. The mission of the 10th CST is to confront and coordinate a national response to high fatality incidents such as chemical, biological or nuclear weapons attack in the Washington state region.

"I congratulate the men and women of the 10th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team on their certification by the Secretary of Defense. The formation of this team is an important step in maintaining the safety and security of the Pacific Northwest," said Cantwell. "This is an exceptional accomplishment for the Washington National Guard, and a crucial asset for the people of Washington state."

The WMD-CST has the ability to respond to an incident in Washington state within four hours, moving either on the ground or on military aircraft. In addition to its command and logistics sections, the 22-member team also has medical and communications capabilities. The team also employs Tactical Decontamination Equipment and a Mobile Analytical Laboratory System to evaluate and respond to chemical threats.