Stories

BRAVO CO CERTEX - La Plata, Maryland (August 19, 2021) – U.S. Marines and Sailors, with Bravo Company, Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) participate in a multitude of different events during the Bravo Company certification exercise at the La Plata Fire and Rescue Institute, La Plata, Md. CBIRF conducts periodical certification exercises in order to maintain the Marine’s ability to respond in an expeditious and manner. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by SSgt Kristian S. Karsten/Released)

CBIRF Bravo Company Certification Exercise

La Plata, Maryland (August 19, 2021) – U.S. Marines and Sailors, with Bravo Company, Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) participate in a multitude of different events during the Bravo Company certification exercise at the La Plata Fire and Rescue Institute, La Plata, Md. CBIRF conducts periodical exercises in order to Certify the Marine’s ability to respond in an expeditious manner. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by SSgt Kristian S. Karsten/Released)

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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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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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NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY INDIAN HEAD, MD :: Marines and sailors with Headquarters and Service Company, Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, CBIRF, take part in a change of command ceremony at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Md., July 13, 2016. Capt. Robert G. Ukrainec assumed command from Capt. Lucas H. Forcella, and the two gave remarks during the ceremony thanking their leadership and families. (Official USMC Photo by Sgt. Jonathan S. Herrera/Released) - NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY INDIAN HEAD, MD :: Marines and sailors with Headquarters and Service Company, Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, CBIRF, take part in a change of command ceremony at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Md., July 13, 2016. Capt. Robert G. Ukrainec assumed command from Capt. Lucas H. Forcella, and the two gave remarks during the ceremony thanking their leadership and families. (Official USMC Photo by Sgt. Jonathan S. Herrera/Released)

Headquarters and Service Company conducts change of command ceremony

NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY INDIAN HEAD, Md. – Capt. Robert G. Ukrainec assumed command of Headquarters and Service Company, Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, CBIRF, from Capt. Lucas H. Forcella during a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Md., July 13, 2016.

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Middle School teens from the Department of Defense bases around South Maryland and Virginia participated in L.I.N.K.S. for Teens at the Naval Surface Facility Indian Head, Md., June 30, 2016. The event was hosted by Chemical, Biological, Incident Response Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The Teens participated in seven different stations related to the physical and mental preparation a Marine goes under on a daily basis. The teens learned various different skills to build teamwork and camaraderie between peers, as well as the core values of the Marines and goals for the future. CBIRF is an active duty Marine Corps unit that, when directed, forward-deploys and/or responds with minimal warning to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) threat or event in order to assist local, state, or federal agencies and the geographic combatant commanders in the conduct of CBRNE response or consequence management operations, providing capabilities for command and control; agent detection and identification; search, rescue, and decontamination; and emergency medical care for contaminated personnel. (Official USMC Photo by Lance Cpl. Maverick S. Mejia/RELEASED) - Middle School teens from the Department of Defense bases around South Maryland and Virginia participated in L.I.N.K.S. for Teens at the Naval Surface Facility Indian Head, Md., June 30, 2016. The event was hosted by Chemical, Biological, Incident Response Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The Teens participated in seven different stations related to the physical and mental preparation a Marine goes under on a daily basis. The teens learned various different skills to build teamwork and camaraderie between peers, as well as the core values of the Marines and goals for the future. CBIRF is an active duty Marine Corps unit that, when directed, forward-deploys and/or responds with minimal warning to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) threat or event in order to assist local, state, or federal agencies and the geographic combatant commanders in the conduct of CBRNE response or consequence management operations, providing capabilities for command and control; agent detection and identification; search, rescue, and decontamination; and emergency medical care for contaminated personnel. (Official USMC Photo by Lance Cpl. Maverick S. Mejia/RELEASED)

CBIRF and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall hosts L.I.N.K.S. for Teens

Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, CBIRF, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Lifestyle Insights, Networking, Knowledge and Skills or, L.I.N.K.S. hosted the first-of-its-kind Teens event June 30, 2016 at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Md. L.I.N.K.S., an official Marine Corps program designed to help military family members connect to the Corps, extended its reach to teens by introducing them to a day in the life of a Marine. The intent of the event was to teach the students not only the Marines core values but also other aspects of their training from physical to mental. The event welcomed roughly 120 middle school students from Indian Head, Dahlgren, Annapolis, Joint Base Anacostia Bowling and Patuxent River middle schools, said Sarah Hagensick, event coordinator and youth director for Morale Welfare and Recreation Indian Head. The event was organized with the help of the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall L.I.N.K.S. youth director as well as volunteers from CBIRF and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

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