Technician Course prepares Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear for uncertainty

Photo By Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin | Lance Cpl. Michael H. Sharmen, 21, Arlington, Texas, and Lance Cpl. Saul Castro, 19, Destin, Fla., Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense specialists, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, evacuate a casualty during the first field exercise of the five-week technician course. The course had the Marines patrol through a small town where they discovered a man lying in a doorway bleeding from the mouth. Inside the small house was a lab with unknown chemicals spread across a table. The Marines gather samples, evacuate casualties and respond to various other situations they may face in a chemical warfare environment. These training exercises lead up to the final exercise, where they will earn their technician certification.  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

04.30.2009

Story by Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin 

1st Marine Logistics Group

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A man lies in the doorway, bleeding from the mouth. Inside the house a lab with unknown chemicals is found spread across the table.

This was part of a scenario presented to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense specialists during the first field operation of the five-week technician course, April 30. The course is designed with realistic scenarios that require the Marines to react as they would in a real-world scenario. Once they complete the course they are certified to deal with spills and respond to casualties.

Eight Marines attended the initial course and started as a group. As the mission progressed, they were sent in as teams to respond.

During the exercise Marines had to be aware of anything that didn't look normal. Once they discovered the body and the lab, the first team of Marines reported back to base and evacuated the body while the second team went in to inspect the lab.

"These scenarios were pretty realistic," said Lance Cpl. Gerardo J. Herrera, 20, Pittston, Pa., warehouse personnel, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group. "It's good the training is as realistic as possible [because] it can help us be better prepared for real missions like this."

The makeshift lab where the casualty was found had chemicals and it was up to the second team to find out what they were. They had to use every tool in their possession to get what they needed.

Outfitted in their protective suits, the Marines used syringes and gauze to obtain samples form the lab. Doing this in the level A chemical warfare agent protective suit was difficult because the suit is inflated from the clean air being filtered in.

"It was a hassle to try to extract some of the chemicals from the containers without getting it on us," said Lance Cpl. Cory J. Flynn, 22, Hobbs, New Mexico CBRN defense specialist, CLR-17. "We used whatever methods that worked to get what we needed."

While inspecting the lab one of the defense specialist was "exposed" to the unknown chemicals. The Marines were tested on how fast they reacted to his contamination and evacuating him. It only took them 54 seconds.

"Fifty-four seconds isn't bad," said Pfc. James D. Mayo, 19, Philadelphia, CBRN clerk, CLR-17. "We didn't realize he went down. If we did we would've got him out there faster."

These training exercises lead up to the final exercise on May 22, where they earn their technician certification. With chemical warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan ever-changing, courses like this better prepare Marines for what's around the next corner.

• Date Taken: 04.30.2009
• Date Posted: 05.05.2009 14:13
• Story ID: 33228
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US