33rd Civil Support Team participates in Capital Shield Exercise

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The 33rd Civil Support Team, District of Columbia National Guard, participates in the 2012 Capital Shield Exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Searls/released)

WASHINGTON, DC (10/10/2012)(readMedia)-- By Sgt. Jesse Searls

The District of Columbia National Guard participated in the 2012 Capital Shield Exercise, a training event which emphasizes unity of effort for district and federal agencies operating in the District of Columbia in preparation for events such as the upcoming inauguration.

The D.C. Army National Guard's 33rd CST, together with the Massachusetts National Guard's 1st CST, set up their equipment for a section of the training conducted in Southeast Washington.

The western campus of St. Elizabeth's Hospital, which opened in 1855 as the "Government Hospital for the Insane," is situated in southeast D.C., south and across the Anacostia River from the D.C. National Guard Armory. The rich and storied history of the institution is palpable as the National Guardsmen conducted a training scenario based on a possible chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear threat.

The mission of the D.C.ARNG's 33rd CST is one of paramount importance: made up of 22 highly trained HAZMAT technicians, it is capable of responding to various untold levels of natural or man-made disasters that could threaten the public safety in the District of Columbia. Training exercises like Capital Shield prepare the soldiers to work with and assist several agencies and departments.

The 33rd works closely with the D.C. Fire Department, Metropolitan Police Department, D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, D.C. Department of Health, and the FBI in a combined effort to protect the public in the event of a weapons of mass destruction attack on our nation's capital.

Among the training area is a vast array of shuttered, three-story tall brick buildings begging for their story to be told. The campus covers over 100 acres. It's closed off to the public with fencing and gate guards and is confusing to drive around with its tight, twisting roads, adding up to an excellent environment for precise and professional training to take place.

During Capital Shield Exercise at St. Elizabeth's, SGT Tanisha Mercado, having just finished an exercise in a heavy, air-tight chemical suit with its own oxygen container, talked about the training that day.

"SSG Jason McGuire and I were tasked with performing surveying and recon around a trailer." Said SGT Mercado, as she pointed to a large conex container sitting conspicuously among the historic buildings of St Elizabeth's. "We took a grab sample, which is when the entire package, container, envelope, or in this case, a propane tank is taken into the lab. Our grab sample turned out to be an improvised dispersal device."

The 33rd CST has completed two large-scale exercises this year in anticipation of the 2013 Presidential Inauguration to be held Monday, January 21st. Training will continue to be first-rate and collaborative with other state CSTs between now and January 21st.

33rd CST's First Sergeant and senior NCO, 1SG Charles Mick summed it up best, "I'm proud of the hard work they put in every day. We're ready for anything."