Troopers get an eye opener

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

08.19.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Jess Williams 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

All newly arriving Soldiers assigned to 525th Military Police Detention Battalion and newly arriving Sailors from the Joint Medical Group conducted a 5-day pre-service training. Part of this training included a 4-hour block of Unarmed Self Defense and a Level 1, 2 and 3 Oleoresin Capsaicin Pepper Spray confidence course. The Troopers received an hour block of instruction two days prior to the course.
“I am mandated to cover a description of the course itself, an in-depth safety brief, including medical conditions that may hinder the individual, side effects, as well as how to properly decontaminate,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Devito, a non-lethal weapons instructor.
Oleoresin Capsaicin spray, an inflammatory agent, causes the immediate closing of the eyes, difficulty breathing, tears, temporary blindness and immense pain. The effects of the spray typically last for approximately 30 to 45 minutes after initial contact.
The majority of the Troopers participated in Level 3 certification, requiring Troopers to work in and around a room or area that is contaminated. The training requires Troopers to enter a booth covered in OC pepper spray, where they have to conduct two minutes of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. This skill could prove very valuable to the corpsmen and nurses.
“If there was a medical emergency in the camps and OC was sprayed nearby, the corpsmen and nurses would respond to the emergency and provide care in the midst of the OC spray,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Shannon Jimenez, a Trooper with the Joint Medical Group. “Therefore, getting this real life experience of being subjected to OC spray in a non-direct manner can help prepare them for this situation. As corpsmen it is important to always be ready for any situation and that is our goal with the Level 3 OC Spray certification.”
During the training, Troopers struggled to keep their composure while fighting through the pain caused by the reaction to the spray. Before receiving treatment to relieve them of the effects of the spray, each Trooper completed five required obstacles under the close supervision of Devito.
“I am the primary Non-Lethal Weapons Instructor for the 525th MP Bn. and I conduct all of the spraying,” said Devito. “In order to conduct this training as a certified instructor, I had to pass the two-week long Inter-service Non-Lethal Individual Weapons Course. I have certified approximately 87 Soldiers on Level 1 contamination and over 100 Sailors on Level 3 contamination.”
Although Troopers endured a great amount of pain, they understood the importance behind the training.
“The pain was almost unbearable, but I now can understand the reactions of a victim and their capabilities when under the influence of the chemical,” said a JTF GTMO Trooper. “But more importantly, it has taught me that if I ever get accidently sprayed during a conflict, I will be able to fight through the effects of it and continue with the mission.”

• Date Taken: 08.19.2016
• Date Posted: 08.29.2016 14:46
• Story ID: 208227
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU