Stories

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Chemical Biological Incident Response Force conduct table five qualifications aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Va., on Mar. 30, 2021. Table Five Qualification consists of various short and quick shooting drills while moving. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Blakely Graham/Released) - U.S. Marines and Sailors with Chemical Biological Incident Response Force conduct table five qualifications aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Va., on Mar. 30, 2021. Table Five Qualification consists of various short and quick shooting drills while moving. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Blakely Graham/Released)

Training the Next Generation

“I want to be able to continue training Marines and Sailors wherever I am stationed.”

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YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Capt. Klusmann, initial response force commander, provides Toshimi Kitazawa, Japan Minister of Defense, a demonstration of IRF functions at Hangar 15 here April 23. The specialized team deployed to Yokota and remains on stand-by to support the Government of Japan if requested. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer) - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Capt. Klusmann, initial response force commander, provides Toshimi Kitazawa, Japan Minister of Defense, a demonstration of IRF functions at Hangar 15 here April 23. The specialized team deployed to Yokota and remains on stand-by to support the Government of Japan if requested. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

CBIRF Remembers Operation Tomodachi

Operation Tomodachi Naval Support Facility, Indian Head Maryland – Over 10 years ago, on March 11, 2011, one of the United States of America’s closest allies, Japan, was struck by a 9.1 earthquake. This catastrophic event caused a massive tsunami which was over 133 feet high, and caused several of the nuclear reactors at the Fukushima facility to go into meltdown. This tragic event was met with massive amounts of international aid, along with support from the U.S. Department of Defense. In April 2011, the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF), was requested by the Japanese Self-Defense force to come support their consequence management operations as a quick reaction force from Yokota Air Base. Within several days, CBIRF was in Japan, and ready to assist the Japanese Self Defense force however possible. CBIRF quickly set up joint training with the Japanese, and created an environment that enabled both entities the ability to complement and enhance each other’s operational capabilities. As a quick reaction force, CBIRF’s responsibility in Japan was to maintain a state of high readiness, in the event that the Japanese needed CBIRF to assist them with extraction of their personnel. Luckily, no call was placed where CBIRF had to act in this capacity, and after a month of support, CBIRF started the return home. The unit remained on alert in the event that they were needed again, but both CBIRF and the Japanese Self-Defense force gained a strong friendship and helped foster joint training between the two agencies. This friendship continues today, as the Japanese Self Defense force sends its service members to attend the CBIRF Basic Operators Course (CBOC).

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CBIRF Marines, Sailors Vaccinated - INDIAN HEAD, Md. (13 Jan. 2021) - Marines and Sailors assigned to the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) at Naval Support Facility Indian Head received first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a large-scale immunization exercise January 13 with support from the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Indian Head. With members of the command watching, CBIRF leadership volunteered to receive the vaccine first and encouraged all Marines and Sailors to follow their example. The unit’s critical support for national security missions make distributing precious vaccines to all members of the command a top priority. “As we continue to safeguard ourselves and our families from this virus, getting this safe and effective vaccine is an important step because we are preserving the force and enhancing mission readiness,” said CBIRF Commanding Officer Col. Donald Riley. “In getting the shots, we are regaining our freedom of movement and setting an example for our Marines and Sailors, their families and the American people. I thank everyone who has stepped up to get the vaccine and helped minimize the risk to our force, our families and loved ones.”

CBIRF Marines, Sailors Vaccinated

CBIRF Marines, Sailors Vaccinated INDIAN HEAD, Md. (13 Jan. 2021) - Marines and Sailors assigned to the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) at Naval Support Facility Indian Head received first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a large-scale immunization exercise January 13 with support from the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Indian Head. With members of the command watching, CBIRF leadership volunteered to receive the vaccine first and encouraged all Marines and Sailors to follow their example. The unit’s critical support for national security missions make distributing precious vaccines to all members of the command a top priority. “As we continue to safeguard ourselves and our families from this virus, getting this safe and effective vaccine is an important step because we are preserving the force and enhancing mission readiness,” said CBIRF Commanding Officer Col. Donald Riley. “In getting the shots, we are regaining our freedom of movement and setting an example for our Marines and Sailors, their families and the American people. I thank everyone who has stepped up to get the vaccine and helped minimize the risk to our force, our families and loved ones.”

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U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffery P. Van, Joint Task Force-Civil Support (JTF-CS) Commander, visits the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) in order to see CBIRF’s capabilities first hand at the Downey Responder Training Facility, on Naval Support Facility Indian Head Stump Neck Annex Md., on October 15, 2020. In the event of an incident, CBIRF could fall under the JTF-CS chain of command in order to provide expeditious humanitarian aid to the National Capital Region and abroad. (Official United States Marine Corps photo by SSgt Kristian S. Karsten/Released) - U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffery P. Van, Joint Task Force-Civil Support (JTF-CS) Commander, visits the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) in order to see CBIRF’s capabilities first hand at the Downey Responder Training Facility, on Naval Support Facility Indian Head Stump Neck Annex Md., on October 15, 2020. In the event of an incident, CBIRF could fall under the JTF-CS chain of command in order to provide expeditious humanitarian aid to the National Capital Region and abroad. (Official United States Marine Corps photo by SSgt Kristian S. Karsten/Released)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffery P. Van, visits CBIRF

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffery P. Van, Joint Task Force-Civil Support (JTF-CS) Commander, visits the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) in order to see CBIRF’s capabilities first hand at the Downey Responder Training Facility, on Naval Support Facility Indian Head Stump Neck Annex Md., on October 15, 2020. In the event of an incident, CBIRF could fall under the JTF-CS chain of command in order to provide expeditious humanitarian aid to the National Capital Region and abroad. (Official United States Marine Corps photo by SSgt Kristian S. Karsten/Released) More photos here: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6397285/maj-gen-van-visit

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Capital Shield 2020

U.S. Marines and Sailors with the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force conduct a Landing Craft Air Cushion exercise to transport vehicles, equipment and personnel from Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Md., to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sep. 17, 2020. CBIRF was activated in April of 1996 by Gen. Charles C. Krulak, 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, to counter the effects of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incidents. (U.S. Marine Corps Video by Lance Cpl. Paige M. Verry)

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