SAVING OUR OWN: MAXIMIZING CBRN URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE CAPABILITIES TO SUPPORT CIVIL AUTHORITIES

Abstract

This thesis seeks to determine how the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Response Enterprise’s urban search and rescue (US&R) elements can better accomplish the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission following a domestic nuclear attack. To this end, it poses the following research question: How can the DOD maximize the employment of existing CBRN Response Enterprise US&R capabilities to support civil authority–directed lifesaving efforts following a domestic nuclear detonation? Research interviews were conducted with federal and local civil US&R authorities that inquired about their expectations of enterprise US&R elements after a nuclear detonation. Additionally, an analysis was conducted of the enterprise’s ability to overcome the challenges presented by post-nuclear detonation environments when delivering this support. It was discovered that federal civil US&R authorities intend to use the CBRN Response Enterprise’s US&R elements as force multipliers, while local authorities have more ambiguous expectations since they receive far less exposure to the enterprise’s US&R capabilities. Furthermore, to improve the delivery of life-saving aid, the enterprise should enhance its capabilities to address the threat of fire and added challenges to the performance of US&R skills incurred by post-nuclear detonation environments.