Interview with Army Lt. Col. Robert Cunnif

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert Cunnif of U.S. Northern Command's Future Operations Division, Directorate of Operations, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. and Army Col. Lou Vogler of U.S. Army North's Future Operations Division, Directorate of Operations, Fort Sam Houston, Texas will discuss how the force will support civil authorities in responding to a catastrophic incident in the U.S. The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) Consequence Management Response Force, or CCMRF, an initial entry response force, was assigned to U.S. Northern Command to aid its mission in homeland defense. The CCMRF team consists of about 4,700 joint personnel that would deploy as the Department of Defense's initial response force for a CBRNE incident and works in support of civil authorities to save lives, prevent human suffering and mitigate property damage in response to CBRNE incidents, commonly called CBRNE incidents. CCMRF capabilities include search and rescue, decontamination, medical, aviation, communications and logistical support. In recent weeks, there has been a great deal of confusion as to the mission of the force. It is not designed for civil disturbance and/or law-enforcement operations as was recently reported in the Army Times.