CAMP MEGAVIER, Kuwait - The 61st Chemical Company from Ft. Lewis, Wash., deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, conducted an awards ceremony, Dec. 24, at Camp Megavier, Kuwait, to conclude a training program with members of the Kuwait military.
During the ceremony, certificates of completion were awarded to 19 Kuwait service members from the 25th Commando brigade who completed the training objectives.
Throughout their year-long deployment to Kuwait, Soldiers from the 61st Chemical Company have been conducting ongoing training missions with Kuwait soldiers.
The training has focused on how to operate U.S. military chemical equipment to detect, identify, and decontaminate an area in the event of a chemical leak or attack.
The 61st Chemical Company, which is scheduled to return to Ft. Lewis in Feb., also trained a platoon size unit of members from the Kuwait National Guard.
"When we come down to do training with the Kuwaitis, we want to make sure they are as prepared and equipped as they can be for any situation or incident that may occur," said Sgt. Joseph McBride, a reconnaissance NCO from the 61st Chemical Company. "What we do is walk them through each step of the process. They learn how to use the equipment to detect the chemicals in the area and how to take samples. We also make sure they know all the necessary steps and procedures to protect themselves and their country in case a situation should occur," he added.
During the training events, the Kuwaitis were given a scenario to respond to. They would then put on protective suits and enter the contaminated area to collect material from the site and analyze it to determine what chemical agents were in the area.
The Decontamination Team would then decontaminate the equipment and individuals that performed the reconnaissance.
"Every step of the way, we showed them new things that they never knew before. We made sure they understood why they did what they did, and how to do it so they properly protect themselves," said McBride.
"We got to put on the U.S. Army suits which are differ¬ent from the suits we use," said Pvt. Hammed Asi, a chemical Soldier for the Kuwait National Guard. "Actually, the suits are not that comfortable but this is what you have to do and you have to be tough to do it so we didn't mind."
"What I liked about the training the most is the teamwork," said Asi. "We split up into different teams and each member of the team would help each other out. In the end all the teams would sub¬mit their work together and that felt like such good teamwork."
| Date Taken: | 12.24.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.29.2009 02:44 |
| Story ID: | 43223 |
| Location: | CAMP MEGAVIER, KW |
| Web Views: | 503 |
| Downloads: | 305 |
This work, 61st Chemical Company, by SSG Robert Walden, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT