FOUR MORE CIVIL SUPPORT TEAMS CERTIFIED
January 11, 2002

The Department of Defense notified Congress today that the Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD-CST) from the Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky and South Carolina National Guard are now certified. These teams are fully ready to assist civil authorities respond to a domestic weapon of mass destruction incident, and possess the requisite skills, training and equipment to be proficient in all mission requirements.

The Arizona National Guard team, the 91st WMD-CST, is stationed at Phoenix, Ariz.; the Idaho National Guard team, the 101st WMD-CST, is stationed at Boise, Idaho; the Kentucky National Guard team, the 41st WMD-CST, is stationed at Louisville, Ky.; and the South Carolina National Guard team, the 43rd WMD-CST, is stationed at Eastover, S.C.

Congress has authorized 32 WMD-CST. The four teams certified today are 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; six of the 17 teams authorized in fiscal 2000 are now certified; five more teams authorized in fiscal 2001 are being organized.