Maintaining operational readiness in the detection and identification of radiological and nuclear threats is a vital aspect of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) training.
Be it for the purposes of CBRN military defense, emergency management, government or nuclear energy, the schooling is intensive, covering an array of practical, technical and scientific skills including reconnaissance detection, survey training, hazard plotting and the fundamentals of chemistry.
A commitment to ongoing education and training is a vital factor in ensuring that military personnel are prepared and equipped for the full spectrum of combat operations that they may encounter.
The U.S. Marine Corps' individual training standards focus on marines' competence in recognising CBRN-related incidents and in taking the required protective measures to achieve their mission objectives.
As the world continues to grapple with the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, discussion has inevitably turned to the possible threat to global military capability, both in the short-term and further down the line.
In the first few weeks of the pandemic, we saw the scaling back, the postponement and the temporary suspension of a number of military operations - including the cancellation of joint exercises, a reduction in provision of basic training and the repositioning of troops into a larger number of smaller bases.
Since 2004, the US National Guard's Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNe) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) has proven itself to be an indispensable tool in helping to protect people, property and infrastructure from the effects of hazardous materials incidents.
A crucial strength of the CERFP initiative has been the way in which it has enabled the country's existing national guard units to seamlessly integrate with civilian emergency response teams at both federal and local level.
Simulator detector technology offers substantial and tangible benefits across all stages and levels of CBRNe training - whether it is being used to train new operators, to provide more experienced personnel with the opportunity to refresh their skills, or as a way to trial or familiarise with new equipment.
The rise in the popularity of simulation training over the past several decades has been aided in no small part by significant advancements in the technology and processing power that underpins it.
Hazardous materials that are mishandled, incorrectly transported or used with malicious intent, can pose a substantial risk to human health and the environment.
How effectively hazardous materials (HazMat) incidents are managed and resolved hinges on the knowledge, training and skill of those charged with response.
Over the past decade, considerable effort has been focused on creating innovative new technological solutions that support training in the prevention, detection and response to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) hazards.
In the US, the development of federally funded Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Civil Support Teams (CSTs) continues to play an invaluable role in supporting homeland defence by providing highly specialised CBRN identification, assessment, advisement and assistance during CBRN incidents.