73rd CST keeps the U.S. Open safe

by Airman 1st Class Emily Amyotte
190th ARW Public Affairs

10/6/2015 - Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Kan. -- Members from the 73rd Civil Support Team provided mission related precautionary support to the New York Police Department's public safety during the 2015 U.S. Open this summer.

The CST's mission is to provide hazardous material support to local and national level events such as sporting and public gatherings, and natural disaster relief.

Medical operations officer, 1st Lt. Dan Arnold enjoyed the experience assisting the NYPD at the U.S. Open.

"I love tennis, so it was a good time," said Arnold. "It's cool to be able to work while watching a historic tennis match with Serena and Venus Williams and be a part of that environment. There's no other way that I'd be able to witness that or see any of that if it wasn't for this job and mission."

The joint force team deploys regularly to aid NASCAR and other public events. This October, the unit will be supporting the safety efforts of Pope Francis' visit to the East coast.

The CST's day-to-day mission is to support local, state and federal agencies responding to an incident involving weapons of mass destruction, as well as being proactive in larger situations where it could arise. They train daily to be prepared to respond to the release of any chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents and high-yield explosives, regardless of origin, whether intentional or accidental, as well as response to natural and manmade disasters and ensure operational safety.

"We're like a hazardous material unit on steroids," said Arnold. "If you think of anything happening in the United States, you can bet that we're either on standby or we're there helping out either the local law enforcement, the fire department, or Department of Defense."

The unit is made of Soldiers and Airmen from many different career fields from medical to explosive ordinance disposal.