34th CST trained, ready after formal evaluation
The Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support Team was evaluated as trained and mission capable after a Training Proficiency Evaluation March 31 – April 3, 2025, in Lynchburg, Virginia. The evaluation was conducted by U.S. Army North, which supervised the exercise and validated the unit’s level of readiness.
The mission of the 34th CST is to support civil authorities in a domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive incident, and the evaluated tasks included deploying the team, establishing communications and medical support, conducting survey, technical decontamination and analytical functions as well as conducting interagency coordination.
During the TPE, the CST was evaluated during two full-scale training exercises, responding to scenarios involving a simulated chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive threat, including a simulated attack at a haunted house attraction. During the exercises, the CST conducted reconnaissance and sample-collection missions, analyzing collected substances to determine the severity of the hazard and the appropriate next steps, all under the scrutiny of ARNORTH evaluators.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 34th Civil Support Team conduct a training proficiency evaluation April 3, 2025, in Lynchburg, Virginia.