U.S. Department of Defense

Students Tackle Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force Training

Students in the basic course at the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force based at the Naval Support Center, Indian Head, Md., are given the final exercise scenario, Dec. 18, 2008. The course is required of everyone who is assigned to the specialized unit tasked by the Defense Department with responding to disasters requiring federal assistance above the capabilities of state and local efforts.

Students in the basic course at the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force remove debris at the opening as they try to enter a simulated building collapse in search of survivors at Indian Head, Md., Dec. 18, 2008. More than 400 Marines, sailors and civilians are assigned to the specialized unit that trains around the United States to decontaminate and extract victims from a disaster site.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Chaaka Dais works through the maze of concrete, metal and wood in search of mock survivors in a simulated building collapse during basic course training at the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force based at Indian Head, Md., Dec. 18, 2008.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Chaaka Dais enters a culvert in search of mock survivors in a simulated building collapse during basic course training at the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force based at Indian Head, Md., Dec. 18, 2008. The CBIRF’s primary mission is decontaminating and removing casualties from a disaster site.

U.S. Marine Pfc. Joshua Stanley guides a mock survivor through a concrete maze during the final exercise of a basic course at the Naval Support Center, Indian Head, Md., Dec. 18, 2008. All members assigned to the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force are required to take the course. New York Fire Department experts helped train the unit members on responding to structural collapses and Los Angeles City Fire Department experts from its college of search and rescue taught specialized rescue efforts.

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Joshua Stanley guides a mock survivor through a concrete maze during the final exercise of a basic course required by all members assigned to the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force, Dec. 18, 2008. New York Fire Department experts helped train unit members on responding to structural collapses and Los Angeles City Fire Department experts from its college of search and rescue taught specialized rescue efforts.

Under the watchful eye of an instructor, two Marines work to guide a mock survivor through a concrete maze during the final exercise of a basic course required by all members assigned to the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force based at Indian Head, Md., Dec. 18, 2008.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jason Romaniec slides under a steel grate through the mud to exit a tunnel of debris at the Naval Support Center, Indian Head, Md., Dec. 18, 2008. Romaniec was working with other Marines and sailors inside the tunnel to free a mock survivor during the collapsed building exercise.

U.S. Marines and sailors at the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force based in Indian Head, Md., get muddy during their basic course training, Dec. 18, 2008. The training is designed to be as realistic as possible. While the structures are sound, the team must find their way through a muddy, mangled mess of concrete, metal and wood in search of mock survivors buried somewhere deep in the debris.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpls. James McDonald, right, and Jason Romaniec, center, work to drag a mock survivor out of the tunnel of concrete and debris in their final basic course exercise at the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force based in Indian Head, Md., Dec. 18, 2008. Also pictured is Marine Corps Cpl. Jermaine Paul, left.

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. John Michaud slides under a steel grate through the mud to exit a tunnel of debris at the Naval Support Center, Indian Head, Md., Dec. 18, 2008. Michaud was working with other Marines and sailors inside the tunnel to free a mock survivor during the collapsed building exercise.

Students in the basic course at the Chemical, Biological Incident Response Force based at the Naval Support Center, Indian Head, Md., are given the final exercise scenario, Dec. 18, 2008. The course is required of everyone who is assigned to the specialized unit tasked by the Defense Department with responding to disasters requiring federal assistance above the capabilities of state and local efforts.
DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III