The Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) is a unit in the
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through c ...
responsible for countering the effects of a
chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) incident. They were activated in April 1996 by General
Charles C. Krulak, then
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) is normally the highest-ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions. The CMC reports directly to the secr ...
. The unit is based at
Naval Support Facility Indian Head in
Indian Head, Maryland
Indian Head is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,894 at the 2020 U.S. Census. It has been the site of a naval base specializing in gun and rocket propellants since 1890. Production of nitrocellulose and smok ...
and falls under the command of the
United States Marine Corps Forces Command.
Mission
When directed, a CBIRF unit will forward-deploy and/or respond to a credible threat of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive (
CBRNE
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN defence) are protective measures taken in situations in which chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) hazards may be present. CBRN defence consi ...
) incident in order to assist local, state, or federal agencies and Unified Combat Commanders in the conduct of consequence management operations.
CBIRF accomplishes this mission by providing capabilities for CBRN agent detection and identification, casualty search and extraction, technical rescue, personnel decontamination, and emergency medical care and stabilization of contaminated victims. All CBIRF Marines and sailors are trained to perform both casualty extraction and decontamination. The lifesaving competencies required of personnel serving at CBIRF are taught during CBIRF Basic Operations Course (CBOC). By completing CBOC, all Marines and Sailors are able to support CBIRF's mission, and bolster the current response force.
History
Since its inception CBIRF has trained many local agencies. It has also had a presence at the following:
* 1996 Summer Olympic Games
* 1997 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
* 1997 Denver Summit of the Eight
* 1997-2020 Presidential State of the Union Addresses
* 1999 Pope Visit to St Louis, MO
* 1999 NATO Summit
* 2001 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
* 2001 Cleaned Anthrax out of the Longworth House Office Bldg in Washington, DC
* 2001 Cleaned Anthrax out of the Hart Senate Bldg in Washington DC
* 2004 Ricin Incident Attack on Dirksen Senate Building
* 2004 Dedication of World War II Memorial
* 2004 Lying In State of President Ronald W. Reagan
* 2005 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
* 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN
* 2009 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
* 2011
Operation Tomodachi
was a United States Armed Forces (especially U.S. Forces Japan) assistance operation to support Japan in disaster relief following the 2011 TÅhoku earthquake and tsunami. The operation took place from 12 March to 4 May 2011; involved 24,000 U ...
* 2012 NATO Summit
* 2013 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
* 2016 State of the Union Address
* 2016 Republican and Democratic National Conventions
* 2017 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
* 2018 State of the Union Address
* 2019 State of the Union Address
* 2020 State of the Union Address
* 2020 Republican and Democratic National Conventions
* 2021 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
* 2021 Presidential Address to Congress
Awards
See also
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References
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External links
CBIRF's official website
Military units and formations of the United States Marine Corps
1996 establishments in Maryland
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