Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) is one of over a hundred federal agencies and it falls under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Not unlike other DHS agencies, the CWMD aims to prevent terrorist attacks against the USA. Specifically, the CWMD aims to prevent weapons of mass destruction from being used against the United States. Their goal is to prevent mass casualties. A terrorist can use a device, which can have deadly consequences on a mass amount of people and infrastructure if made from radiological, biological, nuclear, and/or chemical matter. CWMD has a mission and goal to continue to improve the nation’s ability to deter, detect, and defend against such threats (Blocker, 2023). 

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) also understands that should a weapon of mass destruction go off in any major city of the United States, any major power plant, or any major water plant, it could potentially destroy thousands of lives. The CWMD understands its mission to combat terrorism and the threat of terrorists that plan to use Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The CWMD’s objective is to improve defenses by creating safeguards and early warning to detect threats; add layers of deterrence; and have a solid response plan to react quickly, should a WMD be successfully set off by terrorists or local citizens (DHS, 2023). 

Information sharing and partnerships are key to the success of the CWMD. The CWMD relies on other agencies to train their staff and share terrorist intelligence and other information on potential threats and active threats. The CWMD gets information and intelligence from both local agencies and international partnering agencies.  CWMD office reviews collected data using it in the process of separating things into their constituent elements and making the determination of action plans and reaction plans.  Interagency cooperation is needed for the success of the CWMD office. A key factor is also to prevent the acquisition of material for WMD or the acquisition of WMD by enemies of the United States (Blocker, 2023).

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has oversight of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office. The CWMD’s goal is to protect US citizens by preventing terrorist attacks on United States soil. Its goal is to have a response that is timely to attacks, through supporting partners and other tips from citizens. CWMD has a mission to support the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) goal of protecting the citizens. 

CWMD does this by coordinating efforts with local agencies that share information and train their staff, and they coordinate with international partners that provide additional information and recommendations. To safeguard the United States against malicious terrorists who use radiological, biological, chemical, and nuclear devices, the CWMD must monitor 24/7. 

Major threats can vary, but the results of a successful WMD going off, can include any material used to cause death to masses of people. Chemical Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear (CBRN) agents can cause damaging health effects and quick or slow death from CBRN exposure. CBRN can be damaging if inhaled, ingested, or injected. CBRN was used by the US military in past wars and can cause short or long-term illnesses. It has been used by many countries and so we know it may result in serious bodily injury and death. CBRN can also be any material or combination of materials that is used to make explosives and kill or injure large groups (Homeland Security, 2023).

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office must consider options to deal with terrorist threats. CWMD trains year-round and works on options for mitigation and quick responses to terrorist threats. CWMD has physical security barriers that can help with the mitigation. CWMD supports the hardening of building structures which can protect internal assets, as well. CWMD recommends the use of securing zones. CWMD recommends substance working areas. These substance working areas assist in the prevention of contamination leaks. There are several areas and zones that can be protected by structures surrounding potential terrorist targets. The better the protection walls and the better the cyber security, then the less likely for terrorist to be successful in their attacks (DHS, 2023).      

CWMD has a goal to protect both major soft and hard targets. This includes the water sources, water processing plants, power sources, satellite, gas and oil pipelines and communication stations, etc... CWMD’s job is to provide security to make it as difficult for terrorists to contaminate or destroy supplies that citizens need. 

CWMD and other Department of Homeland Security agencies collectively protect public power plants, public generators, transportation systems, communication systems, natural resources, fuel supplies, and much more. They do this by providing secured areas and the ability to shut systems down should a terrorist alert be present. CWMD focuses on prevention of substances from being stollen that can be used as ingredients which can be used by terrorist for explosions, CBRN, and other WMD devices. CWMD has strategic plans and the ability to anticipate and identify WMD devices that terrorist historically has deployed around the world. 

CWMD uses its budget from DHS to strengthen detection and disruption of CBRN threats. CWMD also can synchronize counter terrorist attacks. CWMD uses resources for their security planning and training that covers a range of counter measures and protective measures to keep US citizens safe (Ridway, 2023).

Since the goal is to eliminate or mitigate mass casualties to US citizens, a recommendation I have for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office and other DHS agencies would be to investigate large global corporations that are investing in legal and illegal drugs that have tremendous adverse side effects on all ages. This would include over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs (hormone drugs, cosmetic drugs, depression drugs, vaccines, and etcetera. We are seeing more people having major medical conditions, mental health conditions, suicides, and other fatalities than ever before in the United States. It is easier for a group or company to cause more mass casualties using drugs, including vaccines, on the population, than hitting a target with a WMD.

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) has a mission, which overlaps agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. FLETC creates training courses to mirror the needs of other Homeland Security agencies. The goal being to serve as an interagency Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) center for over one hundred federal agencies in the United States with additional training support to tribal, local and states agencies. FLETC’s mission is to effectively train those who protect the USA homeland. The FLETC has major training locations in the USA, with six current locations offering year-round training. 

The FLETC trains law enforcement members for a variety of skills. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center trains officers and agents on hundreds of topics. Some of the topics offered this fiscal year include courses on active shooter response, emergency care, forensic science, rifle, pistol, optics, shotgun, taser, pepper spray, surveillance, digital evidence, first aid, life-support (CPR, AED, and Narcan), tactical, tracking, vessel boarding and searches, covert operations, communication skills, community policing, crime scene investigation, crypto-currency investigation, legislation, navigation, foreign affairs, photography, electronic control devices, drones, financial investigation, grant fraud investigation, missing and murdered indigenous women, analysis, trafficking, travel, deployment preparation, cell phone programs, tactical driving, gangs and other courses to better prepare agencies. 

The FLETC has a mission to prepare the federal law enforcement community to safeguard United States (US) citizens, including infrastructure and US institutions. FLETC does this through strategic partnerships and collaborations. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center has a vision to be the premiere resource for federal enforcement training. Their value statement includes the goal to be the leader in security consortium for other agencies. FLETC does this by having a commitment to working with the Department of Homeland Security and collaboration. FLETC has a comprehensive and responsible approach to its training (FLETC, 2023).

The extensive training programs and platforms offered by FLETC continue to be updated to meet the needs of the agencies they support. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) trains all levels of backgrounds. FLETC offers novice through advance training to enhance in onboarding and continues to improve the skills of the veteran agents and veteran officers. FLETC offers training that overlaps among many Departments of Homeland Security agencies. The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Offices partners with the FLETC as both agencies share the same passion for protecting USA citizens (Calhoun, 1996).

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) office also overlap because the training offered by the FLETC is an extension of training that staff receives from the CWMD. Both agencies have the same mission, and the need for information sharing. Cross-jurisdiction occurs; therefore, training and mission is common among agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. Collaboration between agencies is important and necessary. DHS agencies have a mission and purpose for counterterrorism. 

The DHS provides training budgets and approves training for the FLETC in areas of counterterrorism, border security, and responding to mass casualties which are important to the CWMD office. The CWMD provides additional information to the FLETC regarding required training, which should be incorporated in FLETC’s curriculum. The FLETC and the CWMD ‘sharpen’ each other. Collaboration and recommendations from agencies ensure that industry security standards are being met. All Department of Homeland Security agencies need to meet accreditation standards via ongoing training. The FLETC provides much of the security-related training, which allows the CWMD office and other agencies to be compliant with their training requirements. 

CWMD provides FLETC with their needs to protect hard and soft targets from mass damage and casualties. For the Department of Homeland Security to be successful, all their agencies need to be on top of their training (Calhoun, 1996). 

References

Blocker, S. (2023). Two Less Known Homeland Security Agencies. Retrieved from

https://cs.coloradotech.edu/UnifiedPortal/DiscussionBoard/?ssid=3&c=6&cid=307428&aid=2858894&oa=1&ver=20231025#/db

Calhoun, F. S. (1996). The Trainers: The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and the 

     Professionalization of Federal Law Enforcement. Treasury Department. Retrieved from

https://lawcat.berkeley.edu/record/490129?ln=en

Colorado Technical University (CTU). Unit 4: Department of Homeland Security Directorates 

     and Offices. (2023). Retrieved from

https://cs.coloradotech.edu/?v=20&ssid=1&cid=80#/class/307428/home/unit/4/unit-assignments

Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (2023). Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction 

     Office. Retrieved from

https://www.dhs.gov/countering-weapons-mass-destruction-office

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). (2023), Retrieved from 

https://www.fletc.gov

Homeland Security. (2023). Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. Retrieved from

https://www.dhs.gov/countering-weapons-mass-destruction-office

Ridgway, R. (2023). HS Security. Retrieved from

https://hssecurity.com/solution/cbrn/