What is a key responsibility of CBRN surveillance?

A primary responsibility of CBRN surveillance is to track and assess key CBRN hazards. This involves continuously monitoring and evaluating the presence, spread, and potential impacts of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials on the battlefield or in areas of operation. Understanding these hazards is critical to informing operational decisions, protecting personnel, and mitigating risks associated with CBRN threats.

This responsibility encompasses identifying specific CBRN agents, determining their concentrations, and evaluating the risks they pose to both military and civilian populations. Through effective surveillance, personnel can maintain situational awareness and implement appropriate measures to protect against CBRN exposure. Such assessments are vital for ensuring safety and planning appropriate responses, should a CBRN incident occur.

Other options, while relevant in their own contexts, do not capture the core focus of CBRN surveillance. For example, neutralizing enemy forces primarily pertains to combat operations rather than the surveillance function. Gathering meteorological data, although useful for understanding environmental conditions that may influence the spread of CBRN agents, is not the central task of CBRN surveillance itself. Establishing supply lines relates more to logistics and support operations, which are separate from the surveillance and assessment of CBRN threats.