Marine Corps Base Quantico -- With thousands of people working aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, first responders must be vigilant of potential hazards.
Security Battalion conducted an assembly which featured experts from other law enforcement agencies responding to hazardous emergencies Dec. 11 as part of their monthly professional military education. The group discussed hazards and characteristics of deadly chemicals such as powders, liquids and gases.
In 2001, anthrax attacks killed five people and infected 17 others, which resulted in the Department of Defense’s focus on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) response forces.
Through trial, error and lessons learned, hazmat response teams have created a national standard for CBRN, which was discussed by subject matter expert Gary Sprifke Jr., Capitol Police Hazmat Response Team commander in Washington, D.C.
Since 2003, Sprifke has been part of the Hazmat Response Team, which is in addition to his well-established career as a former Marine Corps police officer and firefighter until 2001.
“We all know there is an inherent risk to what we do, but your job is to protect the public,” said Sprifke to the classroom of Quantico base police officers, firefighters and military police from Security Battalion.
The PME allowed participants to train outside their normal work environment. Attendees discussed potential threats, responding to chemical hazards, environmental protection and conservation.
According to Maj. Matthew Howard, Security Battalion executive officer, PMEs with agencies in the National Capital Region help the base to professionalize what they do and learn better ways to respond to weaponized or nonweaponized incidents.
In 2016, more surveillance will be conducted at base entry points. Emergency teams will be more cautious of visitors and their access to the different areas on base. “This training will affect how we view the overall picture of protecting the base,” said Howard. “The collaborations of today will help our teams operate with first responders in the future.”
Common themes of potential threats and protective gear were reinforced throughout the class.
“If someone has access and a plan, that creates a problem for the installation. We must be prepared for threats within the instillation as well as those working to gain access to the base,” said Sprifke while describing the different levels of threat.
Training and preparation is essential. There are standard protocols to survey for radiation following an explosion. “In that event, what type of respiratory protection do you have available to wear on the street? Can you shoot, move and communicate?” asked Sprifke.
Learning how to quickly respond to an incident and decipher which protective gear or respiratory protection is needed is essential. Attendees also discussed arriving on the scene to work in an emergency operations center or with incident commanders. Incident commanders are essential when managing resources and tracking personnel during an incident.
“In the past year we have done a lot of workshops on how to recognize chemical suicides. We have to train our law enforcement on ways to identify a chemical suicide, so they will not become a victim during a response,” said Sprifke. “Everything can be toxic or lethal. Understanding levels of toxicity is important, but how do we know how toxic it is? For instance, never drink too much water. Overhydration could kill you.”
Sprifke concluded the discussion and talked about surveillance, security guards and eyewitnesses. Each one plays a large role in gathering intelligence when responding to emergencies. Working dogs have become an essential part of military and civilian CBRN emergency response teams.
“We try and bring in outside agencies to integrate with Quantico law enforcement and fire” to educate them on how other agencies conduct successful operations, said Howard.
— Writer: iirby@quanticosentryonline.com