Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

AFOC and U.S. 7th Air Force hold bioterrorism response training

Air Force Operations Command(AFOC) and the U.S. 7th Air Force conducted a combined bioterrorism response training to ensure survivability of units from biological weapon threats such as anthrax at the base on September 16.

Under an assumed situation that the base had anthrax attacks, around 40 Korean and American soldiers from CBR supporting units of the AFOC service support group and the U.S. 51st Fighter Wing participated, as well as 20 kinds of biological equipment including K 317, biological reconnaissance car.

Anthrax in the form of white powder can survive in the soil up to several decades, and in particular, the mortality  rate of respiratory anthrax  reaches 95 percent. In fact, 22 people in America were infected and five of them died from anthrax attacks through the mail after the 9·11 terrorist attacks, and in Korea, the danger of biological terror is growing as the Defense Minister received mail containing a strange white powder.

The training focused on comparing both countries’ anti-terrorism procedures including sampling, evacuation process, origin decontamination, etc., and understanding them to develop response capabilities when biological terror with white powder occurs. Soldiers have mastered report reception, CBR warning dissemination, quick response, blocking off pollutant dispersion, distinguishing agents and evacuation of samples to research institutes.

Both countries also introduced new biological detection equipment and probing program to enhance biological response and had a discussion about initial response and follow-up procedures.

By Seung-Bok, Lee < yhs920@dema.mil.kr >
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