Two Units Combine as One

Photo By Staff Sgt. Tanisha Karn | TWIN BRIDGES, Republic of Korea--Pfc. Jack Haught, an infantryman with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, pulls security near a possible WMSL (Weapons of Mass Destruction Site Location) 15 Nov. at Twin Bridges, Paju-si, South Korea. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Tanisha Karn, 2ID SBDE Public Affairs)  

PAJU, 41, SOUTH KOREA

01.10.2018

Story by Sgt. Tanisha Karn 

2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade

Waiting in the back of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV), lied a six-man squad. Suddenly, the radio keyed in. Mission time. The BFV quickly spun into gear, twisting and turning toward the objective.

“MOPP4 (Mission Oriented Protective Posture level 4)! MOPP4!” cried the squad leader.

Everyone frantically scrambled to put on their gas masks and enclose themselves in their JSLIST (Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology). The squad leader made final corrections and look over his Soldiers gear when the movement of the BFV stopped.

The ramp lowered as the squad sprang into action. Each team bounded forward in full gear making sure to cover all directions. Once near the compound, the squad took cover in the reeds as the squad leader met up the squad one and exchange information of the current situation. A decision was quickly made and the squad two continued to bound forward as the first squad provided suppressive fire.

Squad two circle around through the trees.

“Put your hands up! Put your hands up!” shouted the squad leader as he spotted some enemy soldiers off guard.

The enemy soldiers surrendered as the squad closed them in. They were bound and taken to a personnel collection point. Once completed, the squad finished clearing the area for enemy combatants then began pulling security.

Inside the compound, a chemical lab and some chemical munitions were found, and the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive Response Team (CRT) was called into action.
CRT sat up a decontamination station and an emergency aid station. Once completed they made their way downrange with an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal team) who investigated the site of any explosive hazards. Once cleared, the chemical sampling team came to collect samples of the chemicals, loose papers, and gather intel though photos.
After the team completed their mission, everyone was out processed through the decontamination station safely and left the site to be turned over. The mission was a success.

501st Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive Technical Escort, 23rd Chemical Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division worked with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team to complete Operation SuHo Lightning 14-15 Nov. 2017 at Twin Bridges, Paju-si, South Korea.

The exercise consisted of 1-9 CAV securing the compound with possible weapons of mass destruction and upon finding any signs of chemical warfare, calling in CRT to exploit the sight.

CRT had some new difficulties to overcome due to situation being different than they were used to.

“We are usually on flat ground, nothing like this,” said SGT Katherine Gomez, a member of the sampling team with 501st. “It’s crazy terrain out here, vehicles getting stuck and everything.”

Gomez said that the little wooden buildings with small rooms were different from regular normal buildings they are used to training in. She felt that combined with the terrain it was very realistic training and what they would most likely see on the battlefield.

In the days leading up the exercise, 501st trained Charlie Company, 1-9 CAV on their chemical equipment and their detection equipment.

Many of the Soldiers had trouble putting on their JSLIT correctly in the beginning of the training due not being familiar with the equipment.

“Everyone was making mistakes just for the simple fact we haven’t trained on it that much,” said Staff SGT George McClure, a squad leader with Charlie Company. “It’s just like a battle drill, the more repetitions, the better you get at it.”

With the new training the Soldiers of Charlie Company soon realized the new set of challenges that wearing the JSLIT brought to the table.

“You have to adapt to wearing the JSLIST, especially the protective mask, because it makes it near impossible to communicate with each other,” said Pfc. Jack Haught. “It’s different. You get to see what it’s like and how you are going to adapt to that situation if it ever comes up in the real world. You going to have to change the way you communicate essentially.”

“Even if it’s cold out, It’s thick. It doesn’t breathe. Leaders need to make sure that their Soldiers are properly hydrated,” McClure said.

Overall the training proved to be effective and Charlie Company completed their mission in full MOPP4.

“It was an eye-opener to ensure that every Soldier is issued the proper equipment, the proper size and saw some areas of weakness I now know what to put more focus into,” McClure said.

• Date Taken: 01.10.2018
• Date Posted: 09.06.2018 21:49
• Story ID: 261708
• Location: PAJU, 41, KR
• Hometown: COLUMBUS, OH, US
• Hometown: KERENS, TX, US