Military Officer - December 2008 - (Page 51) Q&A the past couple of years has given us expanded authority to move that kind of capability when needed. These units otherwise are part of Joint Forces Command but temporarily are assigned to NORTHCOM? Yes, on a yearly basis. We lay out for the defense secretary our strategic plan for the hurricane and wildfire season and other contingencies, saying these are the authorities and forces we need. If the secretary concurs, he signs the annual Defense G EN . V I CTO R “G ENE ” R E NUA RT J R. high-yield explosive [CBRNE] attacks. The first force of 4,400 personnel is to be organized, trained, and equipped by October [2008]. It will be able to respond within 48 hours to a large-scale nuclear, chemical, or biological event. Support of Civil Authorities execute order. We renew it each year and have seen growth each year. Separately, we are building the first of three consequence-management forces to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or A C-130 H Hercules aircraft, equipped with aerial firefighting capabilities, prepares to land. Senior Master Sgt. Frances Williams, USAF, helps a Hurricane Gustav evacuee board a flight at Lakefront Airport in New Orleans Aug. 31. Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 aid with disaster and recovery efforts at the site of the I-35 bridge collapse over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in fall 2007. PHOTOS: ABOVE, SEAMAN JOSHUA ADAM NUZZO, USN; TOP LEFT, TECH. SGT. JOE ZUCCARO, USAF; TOP RIGHT, STAFF SGT. SHAWN WEISMILLER, USAF DECEMBER 2008 MILITARY OFFICER 51
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