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Task Force Prepares for Consequence Management
Friday, January 25, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Army Brig. Gen. Grizzle said an attack of such significance in any city in America (other than New York City) probably would have quickly exceeded local capabilities to respond, and so a JTF call-up would have been more likely.

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
He's the commander no one wants to see.

This is the response that Army Brig. Gen. Jerry Grizzle received when he met the officials of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee.

It's not that the Oklahoma native is a bad guy, but he represents a unit that specializes in the aftermath of a nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological attack. He commands Joint Task Force-Civil Support, based in Norfolk, Va.

He didn't take the Salt Lake comments negatively. "I took it as they fully understood what my job was, and if I have to come do my job, things are not good," said the National Guardsman.

JTF-Civil Support is the DoD organization tasked with consequence management in the event of an attack on the United States by an enemy or a terrorist organization using weapons of mass destruction. Grizzle assumed command of the unit in November 2000.

He said the JTF's work has not changed since the terror attacks on New York and the Pentagon, but the perception of the organization did. He said the work of the JTF received greater visibility and the importance of its work was validated.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan