Brigadier General James Bonner, commanding general, 20th Chemical,


Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, talks to Gwyn Winfield about making the force ready


Ready or not, here we come…


GW: Is there a BG Bonner vision for the force? As you look out three to four years is there something you want to leave as your legacy? JB: As I look at it, I need to deliver highly trained CBRN and EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) forces that are ready now to support the army’s ability to conduct unified land operations and joint force’s capabilities to execute unified action. My main priority is readiness and that is what we are laser focussed on. We are a


one of one army asset, and it is our priority to ensure we are ready at any time to answer the nation’s call. As the Army’s CBRNE Command we can serve as the joint task force headquarters for WMD elimination, but our primary mission is to be a force provider for CBRN and EOD forces to the army and joint force. I don’t think about my legacy, but the ability to execute the mission when required. There are multiple threats in the current strategic environment and our force needs to be ready to engage.


GW: True, and every commanding general (CG) I have interviewed in the past 15 years has shared the same concept and desire to deliver capability, but they have all approached it by different routes. Do you feel that there is a quirk or a ‘Bonner way’ that might be different to theirs? JB: It is just to provide a ready force. As far as different views of the previous commanders are concerned, my position is to keep it focussed and keep the momentum going, year after year, it doesn’t matter who the commander is, you stay focussed on readiness.


GW: The other challenge for previous CGs has been the shifting aim point. Every general in the past six years has had some event happen that has forced a shift in the aim point. As you look out two to three years is there a side of the balance where you need to put the emphasis? JB: It goes back to executing the mission. When everyone talks about the aim point, you have to be able to execute your mission, and our range of missions at the 20th, what we are asked for, can be anything from homeland defence to supporting a geographic commander anywhere around the world. So our forces train to be ready. As a matter of operational security, we don’t discuss future threats, but it is our job to be ready to operate across the full CBRN and EOD range of hazards. Our forces are integrated within manoeuvre forces and we look at providing tactical and technical expertise to accomplish any of the CBRN and EOD missions we


Cooperation with Nato partners of the scale of


Dragonfire seems to be on the way out ©DoD


CBRNe Convergence, Orlando, USA, 6-8 November 2018 www.cbrneworld.com/convergence2018 8 CBRNe WORLD February 2018 www.cbrneworld.com


CBRNeWORLD


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