Army Secretary - Fort Leonard Wood ready for challenges

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Secretary of the Army Thomas E. White says the National Guard's terrorism team in Missouri is prepared to deal with any chemical or biological attacks in the state.

White said Tuesday during a tour of the 7th Civil Support Team at Fort Leonard Wood that the Army is taking the threat of retaliation seriously as American war planes continue to pound Afghanistan. Rep. Ike Skelton, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee whose district includes Fort Leonard Wood, accompanied White on the tour.

As for whether the south-central Missouri military installation could be a target of terrorism, White said: "As the President said, you can't rule out anything. We take all threats very seriously."

White listened intently as Major Patrick Gaffney, an Air National Guard officer who commands the 7th Civil Support Team, showed off the team's fleet of eight vehicles and two trailers that are loaded with specialized air-breathing gear and other equipment. It was one of the first of 10 teams across the country to be certified in August to assist with homeland security under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Gaffney's team would be activated if there is chemical, biological or radioactive terrorism in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas or Nebraska. The team of 22 members from the Missouri National Guard and Air National Guard would assist local emergency workers in determining whether the attack involves germ or chemicals. They also would help advise local authorities on how to deal with the threat -- evacuate or take shelter -- as well as what kind of medical treatment should be given. They also would pave the way for any follow-on military units.

Gaffney said his team acts as a finely "orchestrated ballet."

"It's a team, we all work together in unison," he said. "Everything has to be synchronized."

White, who personally signed off on the team's certification, said it was apparent that the team had trained well and had made significant progress in the nearly two years since it was activated.

"I think it's wonderfully timely capabilities that we have," White said.

Staff Sgt. Mitchell Boatright said he and the other members of the team have been "upbeat" since the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center towers and other sites.

"We've been training, and we're ready to go," Boatright said. "You never want something like this to happen, but you are eager to do what you've been trained to do."

Meanwhile, White also praised the other military work being done at Fort Leonard Wood through its engineering and chemical schools.

"It reminds you as you come to this part of the country just how much we value being Americans and what a beautiful country we have," White said.

Skelton added: "We all know that we have a severe challenge ahead of us as citizens and as those in uniform."