340th chemical soldiers train during Maple Resolve

Photo By Staff Sgt. Derek M. Smith | Soldiers from the 340th Chemical Company out of Houston, Texas, conduct decontamination operation exercises in the field during Exercise Maple Resolve 2014 (EX MR14). Approximately 5,000 Canadian, British and U.S. Troops are participated in EX MR14, conducted here May 5-June 1. It is the culminating collective training event that validates the Canadian Army’s High Readiness force for operations assigned to it by the Canadian government through the Chief of Defense Staff.  

WAINWRIGHT, AB, CANADA

05.23.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Derek M. Smith 

326th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

GARRISON WAINWRIGHT, Alberta – A constant harsh reality of modern warfare is the spectre of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. For one breed of service member, these weapons are not just a threat, they are the mission.

Soldiers of the 340th Chemical Company out of Houston, Texas, honed their skills while providing training assets to Canadian forces during Exercise Maple Resolve 14 (EX MR14) here, May 5 – June 1. The U.S. Army Reserve unit, with squads from its sister units, the 369th and 370th Chemical Cos., conducted decontamination exercises, established decontamination points for soldiers and equipment, and further developed identification and procedures in EX MR14’s coalition setting. For many of the 340th soldiers, the mission provided a unique opportunity.

“We actually learned about this mission a while back,” said Spc. Jamal Bey, a chemical operations specialist with 2 platoon, 340th Chem. Co. “We’ve been training for it for quite some time now. I just wanted to come out here and represent our country the best we can and work with Canadian soldiers. They are really personable and I like working with them.”

Bey, a Houston native, said although the job is challenging and demanding, the ultimate reward is incalculable.

“It’s one of the few (job specialties) in the military that you can actually go out and help people,” Bey explained. “As a (chemical operations specialist) you actually get to go out and save lives and help somebody else be able to get home, back to their family. That’s what we really pride ourselves on being able to get out there and help soldiers get out and be prepared and ultimately see their families again.”

The 340 Chem. Co.’s doctrinal mission is to protect the force and allow the Army to fight and win against a CBRN threat. Through developed doctrine, equipment and training, units of this type serve as a deterrent to enemy use of weapons of mass destruction. Soldiers of the chemical unit agreed that while important, the job is not for everyone.

“There’s not too many people that would be okay with being exposed to contaminants,” said Spc. Vivian Castelo, chemical operations specialist, 2nd Plt., 340th Chem. Co, “but it’s an important job when soldiers are fighting.”

The Houston native elaborated on the methodical process and the importance to detail in each step. Inspection and review are paramount in the unit’s decontamination mission.

“My role is on the decontamination of the vehicles…spraying them down after they’ve been sitting for 30 minutes,” said Castelo. After a chemical bath, the vehicles are sprayed off “so they can move on to be further checked for further contamination.”

“Something very important on my station would be making sure that every single sud or resident of the chemical bath is taken off so we can make sure they have a better chance of not being further contaminated,” Castelo continued. The unit uses a variety of ways to detect “any further chemical residents on it and measure the level of the radiation or chemical that may remain. If it’s above the level that we are told is too much then we will send it back to repeat the cycle and if it is okay we can let it go back to the fight.”

Overseeing the process is a group of dedicated officers and noncommisioned officers monitoring the mission progress and soldier status.

“Going through this process, the most challenging part is possibly keeping the soldiers’ (safety and wellbeing),” said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Olmos, squad leader, 4th Plt., 340th Chem. Co. “The whole process is very physically demanding and we ensure we keep soldier safety in mind. They are typically in full (mission oriented protective posture) gear for several hours.”

In mind as in body, Olmos, an Angleton, Texas native, said she is always confident in her soldiers’ abilities.

“The soldiers are very well educated in the process,” said Olmos, “so they are squared away. There is a definite importance place on (CBRN operations). It is important to maintain training at all times.”

EX MR14 is the latest training for these Reservists, who have prepared for every possible scenario of CBRN catastrophe, from battlefield to homeland.

During EX MR14, approximately 5,000 Canadian, British and U.S. troops participated in the culminating collective training event that validates the Canadian Army’s High Readiness force for operations assigned to it by the Canadian government through the Chief of Defense Staff.

• Date Taken: 05.23.2014
• Date Posted: 05.24.2014 22:25
• Story ID: 131025
• Location: WAINWRIGHT, AB, CA