102d Training Division trains reserve component chemical soldiers

Photo By Maj. Sara Morris | Staff Sgt. Yvonne Jespersen, an instructor from 4-80th Chemical Battalion, 3rd Brigade Chemical, 102d Training Division, walks a trainee through a practical exercise on sampling in a training lab at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.  

FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO, UNITED STATES

01.25.2019

Story by Sara Morris 

80th Training Command (Reserve)

Since World War I, chemical soldiers have supported every conflict, war or named operation that the Army has been involved in, as the Chemical Warfare Service and later renamed the Chemical Corps.

74D, or Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialists, are primarily responsible for defending the country against the threat of CBRN weapons and Weapons of Mass Destruction. CBRN specialists assist in the establishment of CBRN defense measures, provide training advice and supervision regarding CBRN equipment and operations.

Instructors from the 3rd Brigade Chemical, 102d Training Division conducting the course provide skill building. Soldiers learn operations of CBRN decontamination, defense, detection and monitoring equipment, preparation for CBRN defense actions and procedures, wear and use of protective equipment, hazardous material certification (at the awareness level), and exposure to toxic agents while wearing CBRN protective equipment.

“The purpose of today’s instruction is to get experience in sampling. Most of our missions are what we call ‘white missions’ where we are assisting civilians on HAZMAT incidents,” said Staff Sgt. Yvonne Jespersen, instructor with 4-80th Battalion, 3rd Brigade Chemical, 102d Training Division. “Additionally we could be called in if they think there was some kind of a criminal element, and in those cases we have to collect evidence. That is essentially what we are going through today.”

Jespersen recently returned from instructing at the Basic Leader Course in Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Her primary benefit from instructing has been the opportunity to influence her trainees during her courses.

“I really believe that if you take ownership of the area around you, whatever small issues you see in the military, you have the opportunity to correct those one soldier at a time. And in this case I have 16 soldiers that I’m influencing right now,” said Jespersen. “So you have the opportunity to influence the shape of the Army as a whole.

The students going through the training are completing a military occupational specialty transfer (MOS-T) course. This means the class was compiled of soldiers with previous military experience in different fields that are reclassifying to become CBRN specialists.

“My favorite thing overall has been the hands-on training we’ve been able to get. Anything that gets us out of the classroom and away from the Death-by-PowerPoint has been great,” said Spc. Kevin Hilton, a 74D trainee. “There’s a lot of knowledge here.”

After the trainees graduate from the course they will be able to go out and provide CBRN skills to their military unit and their local communities. Jespersen believes they can have a positive influence in showing how their skills learned here make them a helping force.

“The CBRN mission allows us to interact and educate the public when we go out and do things like civil support missions and disasters, like Hurricane Harvey, where there was a huge CBRN influence. No other agency has the ability or personnel that can be activated as quickly on that level,” Jespersen said.

If you’re interested in becoming an instructor please contact [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 01.25.2019
• Date Posted: 01.25.2019 13:47
• Story ID: 308276
• Location: FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO, US
• Hometown: FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO, US