Washington Guard, FBI train for hazardous response

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Washington National Guard members assigned to the 10th Civil Support Team trained with the FBI's Hazardous Evidence Response Team during a four-day exercise at Joint Base Lewis-McChord May 18-21, strengthening interagency coordination for potential weapons of mass destruction and hazardous materials incidents.

The training brought together two specialized organizations that play critical roles during chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents. The 10th CST identifies hazardous substances, assesses consequences and supports civilian authorities, while the FBI's HERT manages, collects and processes forensic evidence from hazardous crime scenes.

The exercise included classroom instruction, intelligence briefings and two full-mission profile scenarios at Evergreen Elementary School. The culminating events enabled CST and HERT personnel to operate side by side in realistic response scenarios that required hazard mitigation and evidence preservation.

"Working hand in hand with the FBI is critical because a real-world WMD incident is never just a hazmat scene, it's also a federal crime scene," said U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Dykes, commander of the 10th Civil Support Team. "This training ensures that when we respond together, our transition from hazard mitigation to evidence preservation is seamless, allowing both teams to operate safely and effectively under high-pressure conditions."

During an incident involving suspected weapons of mass destruction or other hazardous materials, multiple agencies often converge on the scene. The 10th CST provides specialized detection, identification and analytical capabilities to support incident commanders, while HERT personnel preserve and collect evidence that may be critical to a federal criminal investigation.

The joint training focused on understanding each organization's capabilities, operational procedures and communication requirements to ensure a coordinated response when called upon.

"Our mission to protect the community requires a seamless transition from hazard mitigation to federal evidence collection," Dykes said. "This training is about sharpening those skills while solidifying our relationship with the local FBI HERT. Knowing exactly who is on the other end of the line, how they operate and how we can best support them is what makes our combined domestic response so incredibly fast and effective."

The 10th CST routinely trains with local, state and federal partners throughout the Pacific Northwest to maintain readiness for domestic emergencies involving hazardous materials, industrial accidents, natural disasters and potential CBRNE threats. Exercises like this help ensure response agencies can rapidly integrate capabilities and support civilian authorities during complex incidents.

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