They were activated in April 1996 by General Charles C. Krulak, then Commandant of the Marine Corps.

When directed, a CBIRF unit will forward-deploy and/or respond to a credible threat of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) incident in order to assist local, state, or federal agencies and Unified Combat Commanders in the conduct of consequence management operations.

CBIRF accomplishes this mission by providing capabilities for CBRN agent detection and identification, casualty search and extraction, technical rescue, personnel decontamination, and tactical emergency medical care and stabilization of contaminated victims.

All CBIRF Marines and sailors are trained to perform both casualty extraction and decontamination.

By completing CBOC, all Marines and Sailors are able to support CBIRF's mission, and bolster the current response force.