National Guard Civil Support Teams, partner agencies conduct Exe
Staff Sgt. Taylor Dextradeur, training noncommissioned officer, 13th Civil Support Team, Rhode Island National Guard, briefs the decontamination process prior to the initial entry into the simulated incident site at the Port of Seward Drydocks in Seward, Alaska, May 18, in support of Exercise ORCA 21. ORCA is a chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear threats response exercise designed for participants to provide support in the aftermath of hazardous materials incidents. ORCA tests interoperability between agencies, increases opportunities for working relationships, and practices requests for assistance methods. Approximately 250 National Guardsmen from CST units in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Idaho, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin are in Alaska to participate in Exercise ORCA 2021. Numerous support units and civilian agencies participated in the exercise as well. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)