95th Civil Support Team clears the pier
Homeland defense team trains with local authorities
Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Serena Smith
California National Guard Public Affairs
June 14, 2022
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Dressed in bright orange and yellow full body HAZMAT suits, complete with rubber boots and gloves, the 95th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team prepare to board an old rusty cargo ship at the Port of Stockton on June 8th, 2022.
This team includes 22 full-time National Guardsmen whose mission is to support civil authorities 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This team specializes in identifying nuclear, biological, and chemical agents and substances.
The team performs training often, usually an event every month, to keep their skills sharp.
“This is a perishable skill, so it’s important to train often,” said Sgt. Adan Rosillo, a CBRN specialist from the 95th CST.
The 95th CST’s most recent exercise focused heavily on the involvement with other civilian agencies, including the San Joaquin County EMT, American Medical Response, FBI, Stockton Fire Department, City of Lodi HAZMAT team, and Port of Stockton Police. The 95th often provides domestic support to civil authorities, so it’s important for these teams to train together.
At this exercise, the initial call was for a possible ammonia spill. Service members from the 95th CST and firemen from the City of Tracy South County Fire Department don HAZMAT practice gear and work in teams of three to identify unknown materials.
The team carefully boarded the container ship where a mock deceased body and crime scene were located. Here, they used mobile field kit devices to detect characteristics and take photos of the unknown substances. Using this technology, the team was able to communicate with other agencies at their safe location, where they used computers to read data and view photos of the crime scene.
After the team finished assessing the space and decontaminating their suits, the trio briefed the rest of the team as to what they discovered. The 95th CST has the ability to identify samples at the scene, while also working with the FBI to confirm the identity of the analyzed samples.
“This training is extremely beneficial,” said Travis Winton, Stockton Fire Battalion Chief and Incident Commander. “It gives us time to team up and understand each other’s capabilities.”
The 95th CST is trained to respond to local, state, and federal incidents. Their number one priority is the area covered from the Oregon border to Paso Robles, while their sister unit, the 9th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team covers from Paso Robles to the Mexican border.
Their secondary responsibility is the FEMA IX region, which includes all of California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, and Guam, in the event of a mass casualty. In this case, a group within the team must be out the door and ready to respond within 90 minutes.
“We practice these real world incidents so we are ready for the real phone call,” said Matt Knierim, Stockton Fire division chief.
Multiple agencies, including the 95th Civil Support Team, FBI, Stockton Fire Department, City of Lodi Hazmat Team, and Port of Stockton Police huddle before a training exercise on June 8. The teams train together regularly to be prepared for real life scenarios.
Multiple agencies, including the 95th Civil Support Team, FBI, Stockton Fire Department, City of Lodi Hazmat Team, and Port of Stockton Police huddle before a training exercise on June 8. The teams train together regularly to be prepared for real life scenarios.
A Soldier from the 95th Civil Support Team and City of Tracy South County Fire Department firefighters respond to a potentially hazardous material during a training exercise, June 8.
A Soldier from the 95th Civil Support Team and City of Tracy South County Fire Department firefighters respond to a potentially hazardous material during a training exercise, June 8.
A Soldier from the 95th Civil Support Team and a City of Tracy South County Fire Department firefighter board a vessel in practice hazmat gear at the Port of Stockton on June 8. The team climbed to the crime scene where they identified a potentially hazardous material.
A Soldier from the 95th Civil Support Team and a City of Tracy South County Fire Department firefighter board a vessel in practice hazmat gear at the Port of Stockton on June 8. The team climbed to the crime scene where they identified a potentially hazardous material.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Kem, from the 95th Civil Support Team, decontaminates and helps his teammates safely remove and dispose of their suits after examining a crime scene during an exercise at the Port of Stockton, June 8. The HAZMAT team uses MOPP practice gear to prepare for a real life situation.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Kem, from the 95th Civil Support Team, decontaminates and helps his teammates safely remove and dispose of their suits after examining a crime scene during an exercise at the Port of Stockton, June 8. The HAZMAT team uses MOPP practice gear to prepare for a real life situation.
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