Americas Battalion conducts reconnaissance, surveillance and decontamination training

Photo By Sgt. Ricky Gomez | Sgt. Johnson Nguyen puts on mission oriented protected posture gear during a reconnaissance, surveillance and decontamination course in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 22, 2018. RS and D training teaches Marines how to operate in a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack. Nguyen, a San Jose, California native, is a warehouse chief with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The mission of 3/3 Marines is to train and conduct theater security cooperation across the Pacific command area of responsibility in order to ensure access, deter threats, and build capacity with allies in the region, as well as being prepared to conduct crisis response and combat operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ricky Gomez)  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

01.25.2018

Story by Sgt. Ricky Gomez  

3rd Marine Division     

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – U.S. Marines with Americas Battalion completed a reconnaissance, surveillance, and decontamination course here Jan. 25, 2018.

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense team conducted training in reconnaissance, surveillance and decontamination (RS and D). The training included Marines from India and Headquarters and Service Company. The three day course focused on operating chemical and radiological detectors as well as being able to recognize and operate in a CBRN environment.

“We train RS and D in order to provide the battalion commander and company commanders with that critical capability to operate in a contaminated environment and shape the battle field to win in combat.” Said Warrant Officer Jonathan Silva, a Fort Worth, Texas native, and CBRN officer with the battalion.

RS and D is what occurs after a CBRN attack. During Marines will begin by conducting immediate decontamination of themselves, send a CBRN 1 report which notifies chain of command of a CBRN attack and then retrograde back to a pre-determined decontamination area. RS and D trained Marines will set up and operate a decontamination line to minimize exposure and contamination. A recon team will be dispatched to survey an area, bring back data on the location and type of attack that occurred which is known as a CBRN 4 report. The area would then be cordoned off to determine the shape of the battlefield.

“Expectations are for the Marines to be more knowledgeable and understand what their responsibilities are as RS and D Marines, as well as be able to go back to their units and train the Marines on operating in CBRN environments.” said Cpl. James Michels, a Hesperia, California native and CBRN chief with the battalion.

The mission of 3/3 Marines is to train and conduct theater security cooperation across the Pacific command area of responsibility and build capacity with Allies and partners in the region, as well as be prepared to conduct crisis response and Humanitarian Civic Action.

Silva said, “As Americas Battalion CBRN team, our first priority is ensure the ability of every Marine to operate in an austere environment and train to those immediate action drills for potential hazards found on the battle field.”

The Hawaii-based battalion is currently forward deployed to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

• Date Taken: 01.25.2018
• Date Posted: 02.03.2018 01:51
• Story ID: 263617
• Location: OKINAWA, JP