USCG NSF Strike Teams

Mission: Provide Deployable Specialized Forces to assist Federal On-Scene Coordinators and Operational Commanders in preparing for, responding, to, recovering from, and mitigating the effects of all risks and all hazards incidents and events.

Capabilities: Three deployable teams (Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific) that provide highly trained responders and technical equipment for hazardous substance incidents, oil spills, natural disasters, and CBRN events. Equipment for detection and monitoring, recovery and containment, boats, vehicles, and remote observation using robots and UAVs.

  • The USCG National Strike Force is comprised of the National Strike Force Coordination Center (NSFCC), the Incident Management Assist Team (IMAT), the Public Information Assist Team (PIAT), and the Strike Teams (STs).
  • The NSFCC supports the Federal On-Scene Coordinator through technical assistance, coordination, and plans & exercise review. The Coordination Center oversees the STs, the IMAT, and the PIAT; and maintains a national inventory of oil spill response resources.
  • The NSTs are made up of highly-trained USCG professionals who rapidly deploy to incidents. They supply a range of specialized equipment including oil spill response & lightering/pumping equipment, Chem/Bio/Rad (CBR) & monitoring/detecting equipment, and general response/damage control equipment, as well as land vehicles, boats, & mobile command posts. The NSTs use their acute incident management skills to assist and support Lead Agency/Incident Commanders and Federal On-Scene Coordinators for both crisis and consequence management. Each strike team typically has between 20 and 30 deployable members at any one time. (Source: www.uscg.mil/hq/nsfweb/)
  • National Strike Force resources are available to both USCG and EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinators.
  • The CG IMAT provides highly trained National Incident Management Command System trained, qualified, and experienced personnel to assist Incident Commanders and On-Scene Coordinators in all hazards response.
  • The PIAT is composed of a highly skilled unit of public affairs specialists prepared to complement the existing public information capabilities of the Federal On-Scene Coordinator.  
Responders conducting clean up operations.