Pentagon Assesses WMD Response Training

A recent report has outlined weaknesses in the U.S. Defense Department’s training and education doctrine for military personnel who could be involved in the response to an unconventional weapons incident, Inside Missile Defense reported yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 2).

The military services have met Pentagon guidelines regarding biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological and high-yield explosives threats, according to an Oct. 5 report from Arthur Hopkins, principal deputy to the assistant defense secretary for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs.

Hopkins noted, though, that “several key issues affecting nuclear, chemical and biological defense education have emerged.

“Doctrine continues to focus on agents that were weaponized during and prior to the Cold War,” rather than newer threats such as the use of industrial-strength chemicals as toxic weapons, the report states.

Other matters receive greater attention at both the service and command levels, the report states:  “When forced to choose where and how to expand training, time and resources, commanders usually chose to protect against the most imminent threats.

“A nuclear, chemical or biological attack or clear indications of a possible attack are the only factors that will increase the urgency of nuclear, chemical and biological defense education,” Hopkins added.

There is a lack of clarity regarding who at the Pentagon or among the military services would have the authority to update the training doctrine.  The review process for the doctrine contains “conflicting comments from stakeholders” with varying offices possessing “varying authorities that affect nuclear, chemical and biological education and training policy and directives,” according to the report.

Moves are planned to address these issues, Inside Missile Defense reported.

Personnel from the Joint Staff, Defense Threat Reduction Agency and intelligence community are expected to form a steering committee to assess emerging threats, the report says.  Their work is set to result in an interdepartmental plan at the Pentagon, expected to be finished before July.

The panel is also expected to prepare a “security classification guide” on toxic agents that could be used as weapons.  The guide would then be incorporated into WMD training and education.

Hopkins called for the Joint Staff to lead a working group to address issues related to the doctrine review process in order to “ensure stabilization and consistency in nuclear, chemical and biological defense policy” (Carlo Munoz, Inside Missile Defense, Jan. 9).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.