Responding to the Unthinkable: The Reserve Components' Role in Recovering from a Biological Incident
Abstract
With the potential proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive (CBRNE) capabilities throughout the world an already challenging security environment grows even more daunting every day. Whether occurring naturally, released unintentionally, or dispersed with a deliberately diabolic intent, the effects of a release of these mechanisms can transcend even the immediate devastation they may portend. Beyond massive death and injury, these agents could attack the very core of the Nation's security, economic strength, and physical and mental well-being. As such, the military component of this Nation's defense must begin pondering the unthinkable, postulating the role it may have to play in mitigating, responding to, and recovering from this kind of catastrophe. With that possibility in mind, the United States Army War College's Center for Strategic Leadership conducted a focused workshop bringing together over 100 participants from local, regional, state, and federal entities to review contemporary plans, policies, and procedures for Disaster Response, and to postulate how those initiatives could meet the required response following the catastrophic introduction of a CBRNE event. Particular focus was directed on how the Army's Reserve Components, the Army Reserve, and the National Guard, would fit into the equation. Three different scenarios were considered one biological, one radiological, and one nuclear. This paper addresses the workshop's findings related to response following a pandemic biological incident in the United States.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA430488
Entities
People
- Bert Tussing
- John Traylor
Organizations
- United States Army War College