Rapid Intervention Safety and Command (RISC)

RISC is a highly trained and dedicated team of secret service agents that work in and around the White House. The folks on this team respond to chemical, biological and radiological threats; fire hazards; physical entrapments and other life-threatening emergencies. There have been wide spread rumors as to the reason for the formation of this team, including the replacement of DC Fire-EMS units and restricting DCFD access to White House grounds. There has been statements made that DCFD hasn't required FBI background checks on its employees since 1992, thus a great reason in my mind to limit their access. The official statements are that RISC would be a rapid intervention team that stabilizes any emergency until the FD arrives and would be 'limiting the day to day responses for "lesser" emergencies'.

This group was formed October 2004 (if I am mistaken please correct me) and to my knowledge there hasn't been a major conflict since its formation (event). In my opinion this is a great idea and all companies and organizations should create teams like what the Secret Service did.

The basis for this post is this: Change is different, not bad. Embrace the changes and try to make the most of them. It may benefit you more than you know. I recently spoke with a guy in my department that (when speaking of another new guy that got kicked out of a medic class) said that if no punishment was dealt out to the guys that were (like him) required to take the class he was going to drop his card as well. If one person will not do a job then someone around the corner will. RISC, Fire/Medic cross training, Tech Rescue, Haz Mat, and all of the other specialty areas are all different (changes) and they are all needed. Embrace the change and join the team to make our jobs better and safer.