Alabama Guardsmen perform Chemical Training with Marine Expeditionary Unit

Photo By Spc. Matthew H. Oda | Soldiers of the 1343rd Chemical Co., 151st CBRNE, 115th Fires Brigade and Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are decontaminated during joint training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Sept. 3.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

09.05.2009

Story by Sgt. Robert Walden 

Joint Force Headquarters - Wyoming National Guard

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT-- Soldiers from the 1343rd Chemical Company, 115th Fires Brigade, conducted Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear response training with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit employing the Marines state of the art equipment, Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

The 22nd MEU is testing new chemical equipment and will report their findings to the Marine CBRN Defense School helping them to establish training curriculum on the equipment.

Like many National Guard units activated for the Global War on Terrorism, the 1343rd Chemical Company, 151 CBRNE, has a non-standard mission. They operate as Military Police at Camp Buehring, Kuwait during their yearlong deployment.

"This is a good opportunity for us," said Capt. Jess Howard, commander, 1343rd Chemical Company. "This training allows us to get back to our organic training, and use some of the Marines equipment that the Soldiers have never seen before. It's been a very educational experience."

The exercise began with service members conducting hands -on training with the equipment in a classroom environment. They learned proper wear and operation of the decontamination apparatus along with techniques and procedures for operating in a joint service environment.

The heat of the Kuwaiti days is a big concern for the service members so the majority of the training was conducted at night. Once they have donned the suits, the decontamination team cannot eat, drink or use the restroom. They are very warm inside and the mask makes communication difficult, said Howard.

The service members then put the suits on to practice operating inside and around buildings. They experienced the high temperatures inside the awkward looking suits while navigating across the desert sand through doorways learning to enter buildings using room-to-room clearing procedures.

During the final exercise, the joint task force responded to a simulated chemical threat requiring them to suit-up and enter a building to evacuate casualties and secure hazardous material.

"The Soldiers and Marines performed exceptionally well," said Howard. "Having never touched this equipment, the Soldiers are extremely motivated to learn and the Marines are very proficient and knowledgeable."

• Date Taken: 09.05.2009
• Date Posted: 09.08.2009 09:52
• Story ID: 38459
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW