Chemical soldiers evaluated at large-scale urban scenario

News: Chemical soldiers evaluated at large-scale urban scenario

4th Public Affairs Detachment

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Story by Staff Sgt. Luke Graziani Follow This Journalist

Staff Sgt. Luke Graziani

Soldiers of the 181st Chemical Company were evaluated, with participation of the 172nd Chemical Company as casualties May 10 outside the Yakima County Stadium in an effort to evaluate the 181st Chem. Company on skills and tasks that they have been training on leading up to this point in the 20-day field training exercise at the Yakima Training Center.

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. – Soldiers of the 181st Chemical Company were evaluated at a combined mass casualty decontamination exercise May 10 outside the Yakima County Stadium in Yakima, Wash.

The event was a realistic simulated chemical scenario, with participation of the 172nd Chemical Company as casualties, in an effort to evaluate the 181st Chemical Company on skills and tasks that they have been training on leading up to this point in the 20-day field training exercise at the Yakima Training Center.

The evaluated soldiers were tested on how quickly they could set up the decontamination site, prepare themselves and equipment and receive the soldiers of the 172nd Chem. Company who were acting as potentially contaminated civilians.

The 172nd Chem. Company soldiers represented various types of casualties, to include minor conditions such as headache, nausea and dizziness and more severe afflictions which required the casualty to be wheeled on a gurney to the decontamination area.

Overall, the event was an opportunity for the two companies to hone their skills under the careful guidance of their leadership and civilian counterparts. The soldiers can take from this event crucial job skills and experience that they can utilize in the future if ever they are needed.

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