20th Support Command (CBRNE)

By FORSCOM for STAND-TO!April 27, 2011

20th Support Command (CBRNE)

What is it'

The 20th Support Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the DOD's most comprehensive asset dedicated to combating chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive threats. With more than 4,000 military and civilian employees dispersed across 23 installations in 19 states it has personnel trained in more than 90 occupational specialties. It can function as a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters and contains: CBRN and Explosive Ordnance Disposal units, Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Elements, Nuclear Disablement Teams, Joint Operations Support-CBRNE, command and control capabilities and specialized chemical and biological laboratories throughout the U.S., all working with a full-time focus to counter and defeat CBRNE and explosive hazards threats.

Subordinate units in the 20th include the 48th Chemical Brigade, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity and the Army's only two active duty EOD groups, 52nd and 71st Ordnance Groups (EOD). These organizations support homeland defense and combatant commands in operations and contingencies throughout the world.

What has the Army done'

By consolidating into one headquarters under Forces Command, the Army more effectively commands and controls its specialized CBRNE elements. The alignment eliminates operational redundancies and allows efficient management and employment of these unique but limited resources.

Why is this important to the Army'

The 20th Support Command (CBRNE) gives the Army and the nation a scalable response capability with the flexibility to operate in a variety of environments, from urban areas to austere sites across the spectrum of military operations. CBRNE operations detect, identify, assess, render safe, dismantle, transfer, and dispose of unexploded ordnance (UXO), improvised explosive devices (IED) and other CBRNE hazards.

What is planned for the future'

On April 28, a capabilities exercise on the Edgewood area of Aberdeen Proving Ground will demonstrate to visitors some of unit's unique abilities first-hand. The 20th continues to grow and transform to meet the CBRNE response requirements of combatant commanders and the nation. In FY 2012, the unit is expected to expand and will have a significant portion of the command dedicated to domestic consequence management. The experts in the 20th possess unique CBRNE capabilities making it the "go to" unit, essential to protect the U.S. public and DOD forces against existing and emerging CBRN and Explosive Ordnance threats.

Resources:

<a href="http://www.cbrne.army.mil/" target="_blank">20th Support Command </a>

<a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php'gid=79853853921 " target="_blank">20th Support Command (CBRNE) Facebook page </a>