82 CST open house helps celebrate 10-year anniversary

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rebecca Imwalle
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The South Dakota National Guard's 82nd Civil Support Team hosted an open house May 15 in honor of its 10-year anniversary as a unit.

Lt. Col. Brendan Murphy, former 82nd CST commander, explained that the open house gave everyone an opportunity to better familiarize themselves with the unit's mission while recognizing its many years of success.

The event also served to acknowledge team members - past and present - as well the way their mission has evolved since the unit's formation.

"While [I was] commander, my priorities were simple," Murphy said. "They were to employ a highly trained CST when called upon, no matter the natural or man-made disaster, and to be considered a must - have unit in any response effort due to our exceptional training, dedication and discipline."

Lt. Col. Peter Jerzak, 82nd CST commander, took charge of the unit May 8 and was previously the deputy commander from 2005 to 2010.

"I see nothing but opportunities in the future for the CST," Jerzak said. "We train every day in preparation for something that nobody wants to train for.  The more we train the better we can assist first responders in whatever situation that may occur."

The 82nd CST has been a tenant unit at Ellsworth since 2008 when the base held an official ceremony, solidifying the union between Ellsworth, the 82nd CST and the South Dakota National Guard.

"I was a founding member of the CST when it activated in March of 2005," Murphy said. "At that point there were 22 full-time Active Guard Reserve Soldiers and Airmen in our team." 

The CST primarily supports civil authorities during domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosive incidents by identifying the agents and substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response measures and assisting with appropriate requests for state support, in order to help save lives, prevent human suffering and mitigate property damage.

"We live in an ever-increasing complex world and our enemies are constantly trying to exploit and defeat our nation's defense network." Murphy said. "Whether the 82nd CST is called upon to respond to a weapons of mass destruction event, or a natural or man-made disaster, the CST is well-trained and always ready, always there."

The open house celebrated the achievements of the 82nd CST, and provided servicemembers and their families a chance to learn about their mission and the men and women who make it possible.