GLEN, N.H. –
On a cold, windy morning just after sunrise April 6, members of the 12th Civil Support Team zipped up their hazmat suits and donned protective masks in the abandoned parking lot of Storyland in Glen. The children and families who usually pack the fairy tale-inspired theme park had been safely evacuated as the specially trained New Hampshire Army and Air National Guardsmen prepared to respond to a chemical incident. The scenario was fictional, the mission was anything but.
Tasked with providing immediate, expert response to potential chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) incidents, the 12th CST trains continuously to be ready to support local, state, and federal agencies in real-world emergencies. The combined lanes training exercise, held at a recognizable, high-traffic venue, offered the team a realistic environment to rehearse critical skills under pressure while involving every component of their surveying, sampling, and decontamination teams.
“We have mission essential tasks that we are graded on externally every 18 months from the National Guard Bureau,” said Capt. Anthony Rorick, survey team leader for the 12th CST. “This is a soft test to ensure that we are doing things according to our training and operational outlines.”
The scenario began with a hazardous substance discovered in the park’s food court. Local first responders initiated the call, prompting the CST to respond. The survey team was first on the ground, using advanced detection equipment to identify the threat, document the scene, and relay critical data to the mobile command post.
Upon exiting the hot zone, soldiers were met by the decontamination team, which initiated a meticulous cleansing process to neutralize contaminants and prevent the spread of hazardous materials.
“We’re going to make sure that they get cleaned off, monitored and removed from their suits,” said Sgt. 1st Class Derek Lavalley, the team’s decontamination NCO. “We want to keep any contaminants contained and away from the public.”
Following initial detection, the sampling team entered to extract specimens and deliver them to the mobile lab for analysis. Another crucial element of the CST’s real-world capability is to identify unknown substances and advise leadership on appropriate response measures.
While the exercise served as a key step in preparation for the CST’s upcoming National Guard Bureau evaluation, it also strengthened coordination with local emergency services. Representatives from the Bartlett, Conway, and Jackson Fire Departments, along with the Jackson Police Department, observed the training firsthand.
“It gives us a view of how the 12th CST operates and the scale and possibility that we could deal with something like this in our own town,” said James Langdon, deputy fire chief for Bartlett. “There's a lot going on in the world and we’re proactive in defending against those attacks.”
For the 12th CST, daily training is more than a routine, it’s a necessity. Every movement and procedure are honed through repetition to ensure the team can respond quickly and safely when called upon.
“We focus on muscle memory,” Lavalley said. “Even something as simple as learning to breathe correctly through an air tank becomes second nature with practice. That’s what saves lives in real events.”
The team’s expertise is often deployed quietly, providing behind-the-scenes protection at major events such as Patriots games and the Boston Marathon, where the 12th CST conducts precautionary sweeps and remains on standby in case of a threat.
“We do pre-event sweeps and stand by just in case anything happens,” said Sgt. Tucker Leitch, a survey team member with the 12th CST. “Anything as small as an unattended bag can turn into a serious situation that we are trained to handle.”
That unpredictability was built into the Storyland scenario, where evaluators simulated a medical emergency involving a team member. The 12th CST had to adapt their plan and execute a coordinated response, demonstrating flexibility in the face of uncertainty.
“These are the kinds of things we want to experience in training,” Rorick said. “It ensures we’re ready to act proficiently, no matter the circumstance.”