Shield - Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Shield - Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Shield - Defense Threat Reduction Agency
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SIGHTINGS<br />
3 / the shield / fall 2011<br />
U.s. mArIne Corps<br />
U.s. nAVY<br />
U.s. mArIne Corps<br />
Japan<br />
BY ANNE MAREK<br />
A DTRA/SCC-WMD Consequence Management Advisory Team<br />
(CMAT) in South Korea was finishing up an exercise on March 11 when<br />
a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred off the northeast coast of Japan, followed<br />
by a devastating tsunami that struck three of Japan’s major nuclear<br />
power stations and caused critical damage and a release of radiological<br />
materials at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.<br />
Following a request for assistance from U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ), the<br />
CMAT was quickly diverted to Yokota Air Base where they became part<br />
of the first responders effort. Even before the full scope of the nuclear<br />
accident was known, the team was working with USFJ and the Japanese<br />
Ministry of <strong>Defense</strong> to develop courses of action to contain the nuclear<br />
release, monitor radiation levels and help the people of Japan.<br />
With support from DTRA/SCC-WMD Technical Reachback, the<br />
CMAT participated in working groups, briefed USFJ senior leaders and<br />
U.S. Ambassadors to Japan and planned and developed capabilities that<br />
were needed to tackle the potentially disastrous situation.<br />
Approximately 33 DTRA/SCC-WMD personnel responded to the disaster<br />
in Japan including the CMAT, liaison officers and Reachback experts,<br />
plus 200 in the DTRA/SCC-WMD Operations Center providing Technical<br />
Reachback support. n<br />
U.s. nAVY<br />
U.s. mArIne Corps
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