FBI, APD and CST respond to Camp Mabry

Story by Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada
Texas Military Forces Public Affairs

Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas – Add Camp Mabry to the growing list of embassies, military installations and a myriad of other agencies receiving suspicious packages through the U.S.  Mail on Wednesday.  Under the oversight of the FBI, the APD Bomb Squad and the 6th Civil Support Team responded to a request to remove and analyze two suspicious packages received by the Armed Forces Reserve Center.
 
Prior to the FBI and Bomb Squad’s arrival at Camp Mabry, the packages had been over-packed, or reinforced with protective material, by personnel in the mailroom and subsequently removed by experts from the 6th CST team.  The packages were deposited in a grassy area far enough away from buildings and people until the FBI and APD Bomb Squad arrived.  The area was cordoned off and personnel movement in the area restricted.  A list of personnel who initially handled the packages was gathered to maintain a vigilant eye on possible delayed reactions.

The WMD 6th Civil Support Team assisting the APD and FBI, is one of 55 teams stationed across the nation and is a rapidly deployable, full-time active duty Army and Air National Guard unit available to respond to incidents involving possible weapons of mass destruction, as well as other disasters and catastrophes.  The team represents both federal and state governments by providing support to local emergency responders and has been training for the “real thing” in many different cities throughout the country.

When the APD Bomb Squad arrived it immediately deployed a robot into the “hot” zone to retrieve the packages and place them in front of X-Ray equipment also located inside the cordoned off area.  The viewing APD officer was at a remote and safe distance.  The X-Rays revealed CDs or DVDs held together by paperclips.  The robot was directed to a decontamination area where it washed its “hands” in a bleach solution before returning to the vehicle that had brought it.  The robot expertly maneuvered sidewalks and sand traps and the operator never left the safety of his vehicle.

Next the 6th CST, comprised of 22 active duty Soldiers and Airmen, donned their protective gear to assess the packages for biological, chemical or radiological material.   Team members usually deploy within one-hour’s notice, but since the “threat” was basically in their backyard, responded within minutes.    They operate as a State asset under the command and control of the State Governor, but provide direct support to civilian incident commanders.  In this case, the FBI was the incident commander.   Equipped with monitoring equipment, 6th CST members advanced on the packages, reported initial field findings and readings and were cleared to transport the material to the mobile lab standing by.

Sgt. Eric Lebeaux, a self-confessed newby, SPC Robert Delano and Sgt. Reggie Book, three of the 6th CST members donned their level C suits under the direction of Capt. Mike Torres, the team leader.  Lt. Col. (Doc) Samuel West monitored their vital signs.    Capt. Torres briefed his team on weather conditions and hydration.  He said: “The packages do not appear to contain an explosives hazard, but any suspicious packages received through the mail should be considered dangerous and definitely should be investigated.”  He added: “We have not detected signs and symptoms in the individuals who have handled the packages, but you are directed to collect the samples and deliver them to the lab in accordance with standard operating procedures.   The FBI has instructed that the packages are manipulated with forceps to maintain the integrity of the evidence and chain of custody.”  He reported to his team that officer John Buell from the APD would take care of evidentiary sealing and over packs.  He reminded the team of safety and to use proper hand signals if there was a communications loss.    SFC Jose Calderon briefed the team that there were no signs of radioactive exposure, reminded the men of possible trip hazards with all the wires and equipment snaking through the area and limited visibility in the suits.

The last thing said to the team was “button up, and lets roll.”

The Mobile Analytical Lab System (MALS) was utilized to perform the analysis of the packages.  The MALS is based on a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer system able to identify 125,000 organic substances.  This system comprised of Multi-tube Thermal Description Unit (MTDU), along with chemical analysis computer hardware and software is mounted together with a Bio-Level III glove box, Fluorescent Microscope and other sophisticated laboratory equipment in a temperature-controlled vehicle with self-contained power generating capacity.

The Bio-Level III glove box is located on the side of the vehicle, and is a lab-in-a-box inside the main laboratory on wheels.   Technicians can do a preliminary analysis of the material inside the box before introducing the suspected packages to the main laboratory, avoiding contamination of people and equipment.  As it turned out there was no threat of contamination and the FBI, APD and CST rapped it up around 7 p.m. and determined the packages to be non-hazardous.  At no time were Camp Mabry personnel or neighboring homes in danger because evacuation orders would have been issued. 

Three other Texas National Guard installations received similar packages.   One was delivered to the 149th Fighter Wing mail room at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, one was  found at the 136th Airlift Wing in Fort Worth and the third at the 147th Reconnaissance Wing in Houston.   These packages were analyzed in similar fashion and determined to be non-hazardous as well.

Col. Jet Hays, Commander 6th Civil Support Team said: “This was an excellent exercise with an element of urgency because we did not know for sure that this would be harmless.  We thank our FBI and APD partners for their quick response and excellent coordination with our team.”  He added: “The 6th CST will continue to be vigilant about anything suspicious found or delivered to one of its facilities regardless of the number of times we have to roll out.”