The United States Army
The United States Army
04/09/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/09/2024 22:21
Wisconsin Guard Civil Support Team Hones Readiness
[Link] Survey team members with the Wisconsin National Guard's 54th Civil Support Team decontaminate during an annual exercise Aug. 28, 2024, at a warehouse in Madison, Wis. The 54th CST is a specialized unit of full-time Army and Air National Guard members trained to respond to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear emergencies. (Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs photo by Vaughn R. Larson) (Photo Credit: Vaughn Larson)VIEW ORIGINAL
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin National Guard's 54th Civil Support Team faced a realistic training scenario Aug. 28, responding to the discovery of a makeshift laboratory in a home renovation company warehouse.
In the scenario, a warehouse worker calls 911 and members of the Madison Fire Department arrive on the scene and detect radiation.
This activates the 54th CST, a specialized unit of full-time Army and Air National Guard members trained to respond to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear emergencies.
Lt. Col. Seth Kaste, the CST team commander, said the exercise was very successful.
During the "combined lanes" training exercise, CST members tested their skills to prepare for the unit's 18-month evaluation in early 2025.
Two survey members entered the warehouse to search for the radiation source, secure and remove it. The exercise included a separate release of an unknown hazardous substance in a different location, requiring the team to dispatch a smaller element and respond to a team member requiring emergency medical aid.
Wisconsin's 54th CST conducts this type of training annually with U.S. Army North, the Army component of the U.S. Northern Command headquartered in Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
"We conduct exercises and training like this at least monthly," Kaste said. "But to have members of the U.S. Army North develop the exercise and observe our team is very beneficial to our readiness. We were able to conduct a realistic training lane with expert evaluators who provided precise feedback on our processes."
Kaste said all 22 full-time members of the CST were available for the exercise.
"This allowed all team members to solely focus on their primary assignment," he said. "Developing a plan to make entry into an unknown environment with a potential for extremely hazardous conditions takes a team effort. Our team is exceptional at this process, but only because of the numerous repetitions we have with partner agencies, training with other CSTs, and evaluations from U.S. Army North."
Kaste said he and the unit's leading noncommissioned officer, 1st Sgt. Edward Schmitt, "set very high expectations" for the team.
"The 54th CST has some of the most capable Soldiers and Airmen of any organization in the National Guard and I'm extremely proud to see them deliver exceptional results whenever asked to deploy in support of a domestic emergency or conduct a standby mission at a high-profile event," Kaste said.