On her first training exercise with the 7th WMD-Civil Support Team, Maj. Lindsey Decker got a crash course in the scientific acronyms and technological tools used by the small, elite unit.
Coming from a 19-year career with the Missouri National Guard in military police, Decker freely admits she likely won't be testing the hazardous materials. But with three deployments and lots of leadership experience, what she does bring is the ability to make educated decisions and an understanding of the "big picture."
Decker assumed command of the weapons of mass destruction unit - its first female commander - this month. Next month, she will begin the mandatory nine-week training for all members of the team.
"I prefer to work in the field," said Decker, who for the last two years has served at the Joint Force Headquarters at Ike Skelton Training Site. "This assignment is definitely exciting. I feel my past experience has prepared me for this."
The youngest member of the 22-person team is 29.
"The people who work here have been sought out," she said.
Not only are the individual soldiers and airmen highly specialized, they are equipped with elite mobile vehicles and gear.
When an emergency response agency calls for assistance for chemical, radiological, nuclear, biological or explosive concerns, the 7th civil support team is the Guard's first responders, she said.
Decker said she expects it will be easy to lead a team of experts, allowing them to do their jobs of collection and determination then making a decision based on that educated information.
During her military career, Decker said, the two things she has enjoyed most are working with local emergency response agencies and training.
"This is a rare opportunity at this rank to work hand in hand with soldiers again," she said.
Decker enlisted in September 1997 with the 2175th Military Police Company in Fulton. Two years later she was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned platoon leader with the 2175th military police company in St. Clair, with whom she deployed to Kosovo in 2001.
She also deployed with the unit as company commander to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003-04. Then, in 2008, she deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as operations officer with the 205th military police battalion out of Poplar Bluff.
After that, she attended the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, then was assigned as executive officer with the 175th military police battalion until 2014.
She has been recognized with a variety of medals and ribbons, including two Bronze Stars, three Army Commendation medals and one Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device.
Decker graduated from Columbia College with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration and a master's degree in adult continued education from Kansas State University.
She lives in Ashland with her husband, Lee Rotter, their goddaughter, Athena, and dog, Poncho.