49 CES becomes part of USNORTHCOM response force

  • Published
  • By Airman Sondra M. Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (ACCNS) --  More than 130 Airmen from the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron at Holloman AFB, N.M., were recently assigned to U.S. Northern Command's first dedicated response force.

Comprised of Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, the force's main responsibility is to respond to potential chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive (CBRNE) incidents anywhere in the U.S. in the case of a major disaster. It is called the CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force, or CCMRF.

The CCMRF assumed its mission October 1 when the units were assigned to the U.S. Northern Command; a joint combatant command formed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Of those units, the 49 CES Airmen are the sole engineer capability under Task Force Operations.

"Our mission is to enable Task Force Operations to be able to conduct decontamination, search and rescue and other civil support operations," said Lt. Col. Michael Myers, 49 CES commander. "We'll also be expected to provide unique engineer capabilities like refrigeration repair, power system repair, utility restoration and route clearance in support of local authorities when they ask for help."

The squadron will experience an increase in home station training to get familiar with their responsibilities, said the colonel, and will also be increasing their weapons qualification training over the next few months.

The unit will also not be deployed to another area of responsibility during the 2009 fiscal year until the tasking is over.

Although it may mean more work for them, many Airmen seem excited about the new mission.

"I think this is a great mission," said 2nd Lt. Anastasia Hancock, 49 CES. "We get to be the ones to help fellow Americans if such a crisis were to occur on American soil during our watch. If something like that were to happen anywhere on our homeland, I know that's right where most of us would want to be."

Colonel Myers is also feeling the pride that comes with such an undertaking.

"I'm proud our squadron was selected to support this important Homeland Defense mission," said Colonel Myers. "This is one of those unique times where we prepare to directly support our own families, spouses, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters here at home. They will be pleased to know we are trained and ready."

According to the USNORTHCOM commander, Gen. Gene Renuart, this response force will be the first of three CCMRFs to come.