BLACKSTONE -- After months of training, the Virginia National Guard's special response force has received validation to provide support in the event of an attack with a weapon of mass destruction.

The unit is known as CERF, for Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear and Explosive Enhanced Response force. It is made up of about 250 soldiers and airmen from units based in Hampton, Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke, Danville, Bowling Green, Virginia Beach and Langley Air Force Base.

The Joint Interagency Training Center evaluated the CERF last week during an exercise at Fort Pickett. The scenario for the exercise was a chemical attack on a large gathering of people.

Virginia's special response force is one of 17 National Guard CERF units across the country.

-- The Associated Press