Marines get hands-on CBRN training

Courtesy Photo | Lance Cpl. Max Diardio, telecommunications repairman with Communication Maintenance Division, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, practices marking an area of chemical contamination during a Survey, Monitor and Decontamination course aboard Camp Courtney Aug. 5. (Marine photo/Cpl. Kelly Stevens)  

CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.12.2010

Courtesy Story

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Cpl. Kelly R. Stevens

Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents can be extremely dangerous and are not always readily noticeable. Because of this, it is increasingly important that Marines are trained in recognizing, monitoring, and decontaminating these agents.

A group of CBRN defense specialists from Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, provided a Monitor, Survey and Decontamination course to 14 Marines Aug. 5 at Camp Courtney.

"This course teaches Marines the proper procedures for reconnaissance and surveying areas of possible contamination as well as the correct ways to mark and monitor those areas," said Pfc. Travis Smith, one of the CBRN defense specialists.

According to Steve Bowman, a national defense specialist, in his 2003 report to congress, U.S. intelligence agencies have been reporting that terrorists have and continue to search for substances and methods to carry out chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agent attacks and it is increasingly important that the military be prepared for such an attack.

It is recommended that at least 25 percent of the Marines in a unit be trained as a monitor and survey or decontamination team member, said Sgt. Laurel Golley, a CBRN defense specialist.

"Although we hope we'll never have to use this training, it's crucial that each unit has Marines trained for CBRN operations in a combat environment," Golley said.

Marines who complete this week-long course are given a large amount of information in a short period of time. In order to help the Marines retain this information, the course instructors test them each day and provide students with hands-on training for all of the gear they will need to operate if a CBRN attack were to occur.

"The course is important because you really never know when you are going to be deployed, and you never know when you are going to be attacked," said Lance Cpl. Eric Kaiser, a student in the course and a data network specialist with Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Div. "We need to be able to keep our people safe."

During the course the Marines practiced hiking to a location, marking a hazardous area, and decontaminating a vehicle while in Mission Oriented Protective Posture suits and gas masks. They also conducted a MOPP gear exchange, which allows a person to remove a contaminated suit and don a new one without becoming contaminated themselves.

It is important to train Marines in the proper response to a CBRN attack before it occurs, said Smith. The confusion and chaos associated with an attack can be disorienting; Marines need to practice remaining calm and clear-headed in order to accomplish the mission when the time comes.

"The one thing we want Marines to take away from this course is that they need to be prepared for anything," said Golley. "One small mistake can make a huge difference in a CBRN environment. There is no room for error."

• Date Taken: 08.12.2010
• Date Posted: 08.12.2010 21:33
• Story ID: 54488
• Location: CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JP