In the sweltering heat of Barrigada, where temperatures reach over 100 degrees inside their protective gear, members of the Guam National Guard's 94th Civil Support Team carefully navigate through a suspected clandestine drug laboratory during their annual Culminating Training Exercise.
For U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Quinata and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Nicole Legaspi, the extreme conditions are just part of the job. Carrying 50 pounds of equipment while sealed in airtight suits, they methodically search an abandoned house, discovering glass flasks containing red liquid, cooking equipment and containers of crystals.
"Working in a fully encapsulated suit in Guam's weather is definitely an experience, as the suit raises the temperature by 20 degrees, but my team and I are acclimated to these conditions," said Legaspi. "We go through rigorous training to get to this level, and we always ensure the proper safety precautions are taken. We are ready 24/7/365 and that's what our island deserves."
The Guam Daily Post spoke to their unit commander, Lt. Col. Melvin Pilarca, who said that Guam's tropical climate creates unique challenges that the team has turned into an advantage.
"When you get into these suits, these Level A suits, the temperature goes up 10 degrees more than the normal. So when we're operating in these 80, 90 degrees, we're really operating at a 90, 100," said Pilarca. "Just being from Guam, used to the humidity and all that, we can take a little bit of that and not feel too bad. Our bodies are really acclimated to that."
This acclimatization has made the Guam CST uniquely resilient. "Some teams are failing now in even cooler temperatures, and they're failing their evals because they're heating up in there. So who do they call? Who do they call to back them up? They call the Guam people," Pilarca said. "You put us in anything other than 80, 90, and shoot, we can operate all night, all day."
According to Pilarca, the 94th CST is one of 54 similar units across states and territories. Each team consists of 22 members and reports to the governor, serving as a specialized resource for local authorities dealing with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive, or CBRNE, threats.
"Every state and territory has a civil support team that is managed by the National Guard and that belongs to the governor. I say belongs to the governor because we serve the island first," said Pilarca.
While the recent training scenario involved a clandestine drug lab, the team's mission extends to all CBRNE hazards. Pilarca emphasized that the troops aren't first responders, but are called when local agencies encounter unknown threats.
"We're not the first line of defense. It's actually the fire department. The fire department will go in, or even the police department," he explained. "When they realize they're hitting an unknown hazard, they're like, look, call the CST. And we come down, we go down range, keep everybody safe, and hopefully detect the problem and have the proper agency dispose of it."
The team's technological capabilities are among the most advanced in the field. "The best technology right now in CBRNE detection is in the CSTs, because you can go to any other hazmat unit or any other (explosive ordnance disposal), and they won't have the detection equipment that the CST has," said Pilarca. "We can detect the smallest bit of chemical, bio, or even radioactive material."
To maintain readiness, the team trains daily and coordinates with local agencies through Joint Hazard Assessment Teams, known as J-HATs, Pilarca said. They also participate in regional exercises, including KONFITMA in Saipan, which typically occurs in August or September, he added.
Staying current with emerging threats is crucial. "Every member of my team has … top secret clearance," Pilarca said. "We're probably the most purview on this island to the up-to-date threats."
Inside the Incident Command Center during the training, Maj. Vince Duenas coordinates communications. "Everything is in support of our survey mission, which does site characterization, site recon and possible sampling, depending on the objectives," said Duenas. "The team reports back any hazards they see, and intelligence that can be shared, and any clandestine laboratory activity that may require an escalated response."
The 94th CST also houses the island's only mobile analytical laboratory. "We have the only mobile analytical lab suite on the island. Which means we can bring our lab to the site," Pilarca said. "We do have up-to-date equipment in there to run samples instead of sending it off island."
Pilarca wants residents to know the team stands ready to protect Guam. "Please know that we do have the capability to detect current CBRNE threats. And it's not as if I'm asking them not to worry, but I want to make sure that they do know that we have the capability."
He emphasized the importance of public awareness about household chemical safety and proper procedures during emergencies. "If you need help, always call 911, of course. And if it's a chemical spill, those first responders will call us."