Clearwater-based Civil Support Team scores high on recent inspection

File photo of Florida National Guard's 48th CST from 2010. Photo by Master Sgt. Thomas Kielbasa

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2013) – One of the Florida National Guard’s most specialized response teams received high marks on a recent evaluation, ensuring the unit’s ability to assist civilian authorities in response to a domestic weapon of mass destruction incident.

The 48th Civil Support Team (CST) earned a score of 98 percent on a Standardization Evaluation and Assistance Team (SEAT) inspection held at the team’s headquarters in Clearwater, Fla., Feb. 5-6.

The unit is the second of its kind in Florida, and its highly-trained members can provide assistance to state and local authorities during domestic incidents by: identifying chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive agents or substances; assessing potential consequences; and assisting with determining appropriate response measures.  The unit can deploy with high-tech equipment and expertise to advise civilian agencies during emergency operations and facilitate requests for assistance of additional state and federal assets to help save lives, prevent human suffering and mitigate great property damage. 

48th CST Commander Lt. Col. Joe DeFee pointed out that the evaluation is a testament to his unit’s capabilities, and complements another high score of 99.8 percent it received on its last U.S. Army North Training Plan Evaluation (TPE). 

And despite facing elimination due to Department of Defense budget cuts, the unit is still ready to perform its mission, assured DeFee. 

“The 48th CST is certainly mission-ready and must be considered as second to none,” he said. “The SEAT inspection results certified the unit functions daily within all regulatory requirements and the TPE performance not only proves we are ready, but we have sustained our superb readiness levels while facing possible unit deactivation.

SEAT inspections for civil support teams assure Congress and the Department of Defense that the unit is complying with laws and policies, and evaluates how it uses its allocated resources. The unit is evaluated on more than 500 items in areas ranging from budget and training, to personnel management.

“I’m extremely proud of each and every one of my team member’s professionalism and dedication to duty,” DeFee said. “For the past year we’ve known the 48th CST was being considered for deactivation and yet we have suffered no decline in any readiness level. We’ve incurred no unforeseen personnel losses, no serious equipment issues and we will meet our major training objectives.” 

“This again proves the resolve of each and every Soldier and Airman assigned to the 48th CST, their dedication to each other, the Florida National Guard and ultimately the citizens of Florida,” he added. 

The 48th Civil Support Team began standing up April 2008 and, after hiring personnel and obtaining equipment, underwent a little more than a year’s worth of rigorous training and evaluations to meet DoD certification standards in November 2011. 

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