Wednesday, December 10, 2014
What is it?
20th CBRNE Command (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives) is the U.S. Army’s only command missioned to combat the full range of CBRNE hazards around the globe. The command was activated in 2004 based on a recognized need to consolidate, realign and expand the Army’s CBRN and EOD capabilities.
The Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland-based 20th CBRNE Command provides mission command over 85 percent of the U.S. Army Active Component CBRNE capabilities, including two EOD groups, one chemical brigade, Nuclear Disablement Teams, CBRNE Coordination Elements, expeditionary laboratories, remediation and consequence management formations.
Why is it important to the Army?
CBNRE threats pose a very real and serious challenge to the security of our nation and our allies.
Adversarial state and non-state actors seek to employ asymmetrical CBRNE hazards, including improvised explosive devices, radiological dispersal devices, toxic industrial chemical and biotoxins.
What has the Army done?
Soldiers and civilians from 20th CBRNE Command operate around the world to combat the world’s most dangerous weapons in the world’s most dangerous places.
Over the last 10 years, the 20th CBRNE Command has maintained one of the highest operational tempos in the U.S. Army.
The command provides continuous support to civil authorities in emergency response to CBRNE hazards both on and off military installations. The command provides CBRNE formations in support of continuing operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Kosovo and is consistently executing training with interagency partners and allied forces on five of the seven continents, routinely. Together with joint EOD partners, 20th CBRNE EOD technicians have defeated more than 50,000 improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future?
The 20th CBRNE Command is experimenting with a task organization that transforms its two EOD groups and chemical brigade into three, mutli-functional CBRNE Brigade Task Forces that are regionally aligned with I Corps in the Asia Pacific region; III Corps in Europe, Africa and the Middle East; and XVIII Airborne Corps on Global Response Force missions.
By aligning with the Corps and the Army Service Component Commands, the 20th CBRNE Command is supporting the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army’s vision for Regionally Aligned Forces.
The 20th CBRNE Command is ready, reliable and globally responsive; capable of defeating CBRNE threats to our nation anytime and anywhere.
Resources:
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