ENOGGERA, Australia –
The 20th CBRNE Command, or Chemical,
Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives, participated in Exercise Talisman
Sabre in Australia this month.
Maj. Amy J. Eastburg, a U.S. Army nuclear
and counter proliferation officer from 20th CBRNE Command's CBRNE Coordination
Element 2, or CCE 2, participated in the exercise in Enoggera, Australia, near
Brisbane.
Eastburg supported the Combined Forces Land Component
Command.
"Exercises such as Talisman Sabre help to foster positive
relationships with other nations and agencies," said Eastburg, a native of
Saratoga, New York, who served in Iraq. "They also allow us to conduct CBRNE
assessments and coordinate CBRNE operations in a variety of situations and
environments."
The exercise included more than 33,000 U.S. and Australian
troops.
During the 20-day exercise, Eastburg coordinated with multiple
military services and government agencies, including the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air
Force, U.S. Marine Corps, Australian Army, Australian Navy, Australian Federal
Police and Australian Red Cross.
Based on 19 posts in 16 states, Soldiers
and civilians from 20th CBRNE Command routinely train with allied, interagency
and joint partners around the globe.
The Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Maryland-headquartered 20th CBRNE Command is the Defense Department's only
formation that combats chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive
threats around the globe.
Eastburg said Talisman Sabre increased
interoperability between U.S. and Australian forces.
"The highlight of
the exercise has been involvement with the Australian military and government
personnel and learning some of the differences in how they operate," said
Eastburg, who has also been to South Korea and Japan with CCE 2.