ALASKA CIVIL SUPPORT TEAM CERTIFIED
March 12, 2002

The Department of Defense notified Congress today that the Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) from the Alaska National Guard is now certified. This team is fully ready to assist civil authorities respond to a domestic weapon of mass destruction incident and possesses the requisite skills, training and equipment to be proficient in all mission requirements.

The Alaska National Guard team, the 103rd WMD-CST, is stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Congress has authorized 32 WMD-CSTs. The team certified today is part of the 17 teams authorized in the National Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal 2000. All 10 of the teams authorized in fiscal 1999 have already been certified, 16 of the 17 teams authorized in fiscal 2000 are now certified, and five more teams authorized in fiscal 2001 are being organized.