U.S. CBRNE Unit, Allied Nations Train in Canada

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Angel Martinez-Navedo | Members of the U.S. Army 11th Chemical Company (CBRNE) collect a sample for analysis during Exercise Precise Response at the Canadian Forces Base Suffield in Alberta, Canada from July 11 to 29. Missions throughout the exercise included assessing hazards in multiple compounds, mitigating explosive threats and collecting samples for analysis.  

CANADIAN FORCES BASE SUFFIELD, AB, CANADA

07.29.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Angel Martinez-Navedo 

20th CBRNE Command

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Members of the U.S. Army 11th Chemical Company (CBRNE) along with more than 300 members of the NATO allied forces made their way to Canada for this year's Exercise Precise Response at the Canadian Forces Base Suffield in Alberta from July 11 to 29.
This annual NATO training exercise, marking its 13th edition this year, is hosted by the Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC), and some of the 11 invited nations were Germany, France, and Spain.
During the exercise, participants conducted complex Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives missions to test the interoperability of NATO's CBRN forces in a live-agent environment.
The U.S. team, which is part of the 110th Chemical Battalion, 48th Chemical Brigade, 20th CBRNE Command, brought two CBRNE Response Teams and a small company headquarters and joined the German Task Force consisting of elements from Germany, France, Spain, Canada, and Austria.
"Working with other nations has allowed us to share knowledge, techniques, and equipment so that NATO forces understand each other's CBRNE capabilities and limitations," said Capt. Derek Taylor, commander of the 11th Chemical Company. "Most of the participating nations will now look to build on their current capabilities based on lessons shared during this exercise."
Missions throughout Precise Response included assessing hazards in multiple compounds, mitigating explosive threats and collecting samples for analysis. This analysis was performed at field laboratories provided by participating nations.
"The event has been a great experience for our Soldiers who have been able to test our equipment and TTPs (technics, tactics and procedures) in a live agent environment," said Taylor "There are few other locations in the world that can support such complex missions using live agents. The Soldiers will leave this exercise with confidence in their equipment and procedures and be better prepared for a real world incident," he added.
According to Tayler, if they deploy, it is very likely they will work within a task force consisting of U.S. or any other NATO ally. This exercise has given them the opportunity to work within a foreign task force, verify their capabilities in a live agent environment, and work through challenges such as language and procedural differences that they may encounter when deployed.
Taylor also mention some of the "every day" challenges of working on the CBRNE field.
"Conducting missions in a CBRN environment requires us to wear heavy protective over-garments and protective masks for multiple hours each day," he said. "While wearing the gear, Soldiers are able to drink water but cannot eat. Combined with the summer heat the temperature inside the protective gear reached as high as 105 degrees (Fahrenheit) which places a high demand on the Soldiers after three weeks."
Even though the training was challenging, at the end of it, Taylor and his team were pleased.
"I would like to thank the DRDC, Suffield Staff for allowing us to participate in this exercise and I hope the US can continue to participate in future iterations," he expressed.

• Date Taken: 07.29.2016
• Date Posted: 07.29.2016 15:06
• Story ID: 205490
• Location: CANADIAN FORCES BASE SUFFIELD, AB, CA
• Hometown: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US