22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines join Army in joint chemical training

Photo By Sgt. Justin M. Martinez | A Marine with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit checks for chemical contamination in a building during a joint Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear training exercise at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Sept. 3, 2009. The 22nd MEU is conducting sustainment training ashore in Kuwait while serving as the theater reserve force for U.S, Central Command.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

09.03.2009

Story by Cpl. Justin M. Martinez 

22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait — Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear response team conducted a joint-service exercise with soldiers at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Sept. 3, 2009.

This joint training exercise gave the soldiers a chance to experience and use new equipment for detecting and containing hazardous materials.

"This evening's training was a joint exercise to get Marines and the Army working together in a chemical environment," said Marine Chief Warrant Officer Steven Dancer, the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear defense officer for the MEU and native of New Egypt, N.J. "It's a chance for the them [soldiers] to see new gear that they have not been exposed to yet."

The service members worked as a five-man team, walking in green hazardous material suits around a training area, scouting for faint chemical traces in cracks and corners of a suspected contaminated building with handheld devices.

"My team is part of the initial entry team," said Lance Cpl. Jose D. Figueroa, a communication technician with Headquarters and Support Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd MEU and native of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. "We went downrange to do the initial site survey and analyzed certain points for the sampling team."

Dancer said the training gives Marines a chance to interact with another service and to share experiences.

"Any hazardous material can be used as a weapon, and we need to be prepared to work with that material to eliminate the hazard to save lives," said Dancer.

The different training teams went through the contamination scenario wearing a bulky suit. Many of the same qualities that make the suits impervious to chemicals make them equally impervious to clear communication.

"You're encapsulated, you have a mask on your face and you're trying to get a thought through to someone else," said Dancer. "It can be frustrating when you're talking through two layers of plastic."

The muffled voices soon developed into slow annunciated words with hand and arm signals as they overcame the difficulties of communication.

"Communication was a little rough, but I think it was an adapt-and-overcome situation," said Army Sgt. Erik S. Arnold, a team leader with Security Force Area Reaction Force and native of Huntsville, Ala. "We would have to say things more than once and tap each other on the shoulder."

At the end of the training the Marines and soldiers had lessons to build on and experience they could take back to their commands to make them more effective at protecting fellow service members.

• Date Taken: 09.03.2009
• Date Posted: 09.07.2009 03:21
• Story ID: 38417
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW