22 May 1998: Link to White House anti-terrorism initiative

22 May 1998

    Date:         Fri, 22 May 1998 11:35:01 -0400
    From: dlnews_sender@DTIC.MIL
    Subject:      DoD News Releases
    To: DODNEWS-L@DTIC.MIL

    = N  E  W  S      R  E  L  E  A  S  E
    =
    = OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
    = (PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
    = WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
    =
    = PLEASE NOTE DATE
    ====================================================

    No. 254-98
    (703)695-0192(media)
    IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    May 22, 1998
    (703)697-5737(public/industry)
    REGIONAL RAPID ASSESSMENT ELEMENT STATIONING PLANS ANNOUNCED

    Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen today announced the
    stationing plan for 10 recently announced rapid assessment
    elements using National Guard personnel.  The teams, expected
    to be activated Oct. 1, 1998, are part of Department of
    Defense's overall effort to support local, state and federal
    civil authorities in the event of an incident involving the
    use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) on U.S. soil.

    After careful and objective analysis, the following states
    have been selected to receive the teams:  California, Colorado,
    Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York,
    Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.  From this point, the
    Department will work with each state in an effort to identify
    the specific communities in which the units will be placed.
    Under this pilot program, and based on future analysis,
    additional assessement elements may be added.

    The selection of stationing sites was based on several criteria,
    including demographics, threat assessment, high value targets
    and the availability of National Guard military airlift.  Other
    factors included the location of existing military centers of
    excellence, proximity to Federal response assets, and the
    existence of interstate agreements that would permit the teams
    to respond to requests for assistance from adjoining states.

    The teams, each located within one of the 10 Federal Emergency
    Management Agency regions, will be able to deploy rapidly,
    assist local first responders in determining the nature of an
    attack, provide medical and technical advice, and pave the way
    for the identification and arrival of follow-on federal response
    assets.  Each rapid assessment team will consist of 22 highly
    skilled, full-time members who will act as the tip of the national
    military support spear.

    During Fiscal Year (FY) 1999, all ten assessment elements will be
    established in the first quarter, with an increment of six people.
    A limited response capability will be available after FY1999,
    with fully developed mission-ready elements in place after FY2000.
    The 10 regional teams form part of a larger initiative, first
    announced on March 17, 1998, to improve the nation's ability to
    respond  to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction.

    In support of this mission, the National Guard and other Reserve
    components are being integrated into a national WMD preparedness
    strategy.  Complementing and supporting the 10 rapid assessment
    teams will be 64 decontamination and 28 reconnaissance units,
    drawn from the existing Reserve Component force structure, which
    will be provided with additional special training and equipment
    to enable them to perform a response and support mission.

    Overseeing this process is the recently established Reserve
    Component Consequence Management Program Integration Office.
    The organization reports to the Director of Military Support and,
    through that general officer, to the Secretary of the Army, DoD's
    executive agent for domestic preparedness.

    For more information, please contact Army Public Affairs, Public
    Communications Division at (703) 697-4314.

    -END-