Iron Dragons assume mission command over domestic CBRN defense response task force

By Walter T. Ham IVJune 21, 2022

Guardian Response 2022
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army Reserve Soldier from the 409th Engineer Vertical Construction Company of Windsor, Colorado, participates in a mock urban search and rescue operation in an area with chemical, biological and nuclear contamination during Guardian Response 2022 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 29. This exercise features realistic venues and civilian role players to mock a demanding disaster environment. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Juan F. Jimenez) VIEW ORIGINAL
Guardian Response 2022
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the 561st Military Police Company based in Ft. Campbell, Ky discuss procedures of running a decontamination lane with the observer-controller trainers during Guardian Response 2022 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Indiana May 7. The training is to prepare the unit when dealing with mass casualties during a nuclear detonation response in the local civilian population. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John Todd) VIEW ORIGINAL
Guardian Response 2022
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the 561st Military Police Company based in Ft. Campbell, Ky practice moving injured personnel through a decontamination lane during Guardian Response 2022 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Indiana May 7. The Soldiers received training in decontamination procedures which can be used during a potential nuclear attack on civilian populations. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John Todd) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – The 110th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Battalion (Technical Escort) “Iron Dragons” have assumed mission command of Task Force 2 in the Defense CBRN Response Force.

Known as the DCRF, the Defense CBRN Response Force saves lives, mitigates suffering and facilitates recovery operation

In support of U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Task Force-Civil Support, the task force conducts Defense Support to Civil Authorities response operations planning and preparedness to ensure mission readiness.

The 110th Chemical Brigade (Technical Escort) is part of the 48th Chemical Brigade and 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. military’s premier all hazards headquarters.

Outside the wire and inside the cordon, Soldiers and civilians from 20th CBRNE Command take on the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and allied operations around the world.

The Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland-headquartered 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the Active Duty Army’s CBRN specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, five Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams and three Nuclear Disablement Teams.

Guardian Response 2022
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 409th Engineer Vertical Construction Company of Windsor, Colorado, check for radiation as part of the decontamination process during a mock urban search and rescue operation as part of Guardian Response 2022 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 29. Guardian Response 2022 featured realistic venues and civilian role players to simulate a demanding disaster environment and reinforces military skills while preparing Soldiers to work in coordination with local communities during a potential unforeseen catastrophe, such as a natural disaster. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Juan F. Jimenez) VIEW ORIGINAL
Guardian Response 2022
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army Reserve Soldier from the 409th Engineer Vertical Construction Company of Windsor, Colorado, prepares to enter a mock urban search and rescue operation in an area with chemical, biological or nuclear contamination during Guardian Response 2022 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 29. Guardian Response 2022 is a homeland emergency response exercise that provides realistic disaster response training to sharpen the skills and increase the capabilities of the U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Juan F. Jimenez) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington-based Iron Dragons tackle CBRN hazards during military operations and domestic missions.

Maj. Trey W. Ferguson, the executive officer of the 110th Chemical Brigade, said units from Joint Base Lewis-McChord; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Stewart, Georgia; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and several other bases participated in Exercise Guardian Response in preparation for service in the DCRF.

“Guardian Response serves as the validation exercise for three battalion task forces and three brigade task forces supported by multiple enablers who will respond to the country's darkest hour in a domestic incident,” said Ferguson. “The 110th CBRN Battalion successfully validated their task force headquarters, mass casualty decontamination, urban search and rescue and hazardous material reconnaissance and surveillance teams.

"The scenario followed the aftermath of a 10-kiloton nuclear detonation in a major metropolitan city and the actions necessary to prevent further loss of life," said Ferguson.

Reserve component observers, controllers and trainers from across the nation assisted U.S. Army North and Joint Task Force-Civil in evaluating DCRF units.

Guardian Response 2022
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 2nd Lt. Junyoung Kim, a U.S. Army Reserve Soldier with the 491st Medical Command Area Support from Santa Fe, New Mexico, discusses care with a civilian role player prior to directing her to a decontamination zone during Guardian Response 2022 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 2. This exercise featured realistic venues and role-playing civilians to simulate a complex disaster environment. Guardian Response 2022 helps U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers exercise command and control in a realistic, challenging environment. (Photo Credit: Spc. Justin Escourse) VIEW ORIGINAL
Guardian Response 2022
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 409th Engineer Vertical Construction Company of Windsor, Colorado, conduct simulated urban search and rescue operations in an area with chemical, biological or nuclear contamination during Guardian Response 2022 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, April 29. This exercise featured realistic venues and civilian role-players to simulate a complex disaster environment. Guardian Response 22 helps U.S Army Reserve Soldiers exercise command and control in a realistic, challenging environment.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Juan F. Jimenez)
VIEW ORIGINAL
Guardian Response 2022
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Marc Tapparo of Sterling, Colorado, wears a radiation suit while rescuing mock victims April 28, during a train wreck scenario with mock radiological contamination during Guardian Response 2022 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana. Tapparo is a horizontal construction engineer assigned to the 409th Engineer Vertical Construction Company, based in Windsor, Colorado. Guardian Response 22 is a homeland emergency response exercise that provides realistic disaster training to sharpen skills and increase the capabilities of U. S. Army Reserve Soldiers. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Soles) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Fort Bliss, Texas-based 44th Chemical Battalion is the mass casualty decontamination company assigned to Task Force 2. The Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based 63d CBRN Company and the Fort Riley, Kansas-based 172d CBRN Company are serving in Task Forces 1 and 3.

The units will conclude the DCRF mission in May 2023.

A native of Sarasota, Florida, Ferguson has served for 12 years as an Active Duty Army CBRN officer. He has served in assignments with U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, U.S. Army Forces Command and U.S. Special Operations Command.

“I became a CBRN officer because I found the work and mission challenging yet rewarding,” said Ferguson. “The nuances of CBRN and Weapons of Mass Destruction are fascinating, and it is truly rewarding when we can provide commanders solutions to our unique problem set.”

Ferguson said the units excelled while preparing for the DCRF mission.

“In my professional opinion, the units under mission year 2022 are some of the most prepared and validated units to ever assume this mission,” said Ferguson, adding that the incident commander and exercise leader said that this was the first exercise in more than 10 years where every battalion task force validated the first time.

“We integrated with civilian agencies and performed our duties and responsibilities with the utmost professionalism to ensure we leave no doubt that we stand ready to answer the nation's call,” said Ferguson.