Army's Urban Search and Rescue
Team is staying put in Washington
By Sandra Jontz, Washington
bureau
Special to Stars and Stripes
Soldiers from the Military District of Washington Engineer Company take a rest before
going back in to look for survivors in the wreckage at the Pentagon after the Sept. 11
terrorist attack. |
WASHINGTON — They are the one, the only, and they’re staying put in
Washington, D.C.
Despite the FBI’s global warning Monday of a possible terrorist attack in the
coming week, the U.S. Army’s only trained Urban Search and Rescue team has orders to
remain within the jurisdiction of the Military District of Washington, said Engineer
Company Commander Capt. Aaron Barta.
"We’re not deployable anywhere else because of the targets that are in
D.C.," Barta said. "Our mission is to provide technical rescue support for
natural and man-made disasters in the national capital area."
For security reasons, he could not elaborate.
Attorney General John Ashcroft on Monday interrupted nightly news shows on the East
Coast, warning of credible intelligence that Americans across the globe are in danger.
"The administration has concluded, based on information developed, that there may
be additional terrorist attacks within the United States and against United States
interests over the next week," Ashcroft said. "The administration views this
information as credible, but unfortunately it does not contain specific information as to
the type of attack or specific targets."
The FBI asked more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide to be on the
"highest alert." The Pentagon on Tuesday remained at threatcon
"Charlie," the second highest threat level.
Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke said she believed most military bases in the
United States were staging at that level, while others worldwide, depending on their
location, might have upgraded to "Delta."
The 73-soldier unit was on site within hours of a hijacked plane ramming into the side
of the Pentagon on Sept. 11, and stayed beyond the time others had gone home, Barta said.
"We were the first rescue team there and the last to leave," he said.
Their mission changed slightly following a two-week recovery period after leaving the
Pentagon site Sept. 21. The soldiers, trained to retrieve bodies from collapsed buildings,
have been standing gate guard at their home station of Fort Belvoir, Va., to provide help
to the military police, said both Barta and MDW spokesman Donn Carr.
Following Ashcroft’s warning of a possible attack, Barta lamented his soldiers
have pulled guard duty.
"I wish we were doing less gate guard and more training, that’s the first
thing that ran through my mind," he said. "Still, we’re ready and
we’re always ready. All our stuff is prepacked and ready to go."
The Pentagon disaster was the first time the team executed a mission since its
inception two decades ago, Barta said.
"That was the first time we had a building that needed our rescue training in the
D.C. area," Barta said. "In the past, it was difficult to maintain motivation
because no one thought we’d be needed. Now, we take it all very seriously."
The Engineer Company is able to sustain itself for up to 72 hours before needing to be
resupplied.
Tuesday wasn’t unlike any other day for the soldiers, Carr said.
"The Engineer Company is part of the garrison soldiers providing security support
on the gates … and this morning, all units who are not involved in gate operations
are participating in the weekly sergeant’s time training," he said.
Every Tuesday, the soldiers polish skills from first aid to stopping and searching
vehicles, Carr said.
The soldiers have gotten that bitter taste of search, rescue and recovery.
"We don’t want to have to do it again," Barta said. "But if the
situation comes, everyone’s ready."
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