[American] CBRN exchange caps off a busy 2012 in Cambodia

2nd Lt. Nhem Makara (left), prepares to rinse a simulated chemical agent from 2nd Lt. Lim Sophea (left), RCAF National Police, as part of a decontamination demonstration Sept. 5 at the Transnational Crime Training Center in Phnom Penh. Idaho National Guardsman 1st Sgt. Jeremey Hamrick (pictured) and other emergency response professionals from the Idaho National Guard led the CBRN SMEE as part of the ongoing State Partnership Program between Idaho and Cambodia.

Story by Capt. Tony Vincelli

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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Joint subject matter experts from the U.S. military shared Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear response best practices with Royal Cambodian Armed Forces personnel Sept. 3-7 in Phnom Penh.

Led by airmen and soldiers from the Idaho National Guard as part of its ongoing State Partnership Program, a team of CBRN professionals representing the Air Force, Army and Marine Corps met with RCAF soldiers from law enforcement, security and national defense directorates for a week of classroom discussion and hands-on decontamination demonstrations using locally purchased everyday household products.

The CBRN Subject Matter Expert Exchange was the fourth successful mission this year in which Idaho soldiers and airmen traveled to its partner country. The missions shared capabilities in logistics, medical first response and CBRN response as a foundation for future exchanges.

Next year will see an even busier schedule as the SPP momentum continues, said Capt. Chris Borders, Idaho SPP coordinator.

“We hope to get the RCAF to Idaho, which hasn’t happened since 2009. The TAG will likely go to Cambodia for senior leader visit. Based on the high success of the last CBRN exchange we will definitely continue that next year, as well as the maintenance and logistics and medical first response SMEEs. We hope to do a counter-narcotics exchange and revitalize the medical and engineer exchanges as well,” said Borders.