Soldiers from 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, decontaminate an M1078 Light Medium Tactical Vehicle after it was struck with a simulated chemical weapon on Fort Carson, Sept. 29, 2016. (Photo by 1st Lt. Logan Bolitho)
By 1st Lt. Logan Bolitho
4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
Soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, must be ready to face any threat encountered as a part of the nation’s Global Response Force ready to “Fight Tonight” including a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threat.
Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., participated in CBRN decontamination training to prepare for a possible chemical attack, Sept. 29, 2016.
“The ‘Packhorse’ Battalion is always looking to increase its Soldiers’ versatility and adaptability on the battlefield,” said Capt. Alexander Chung, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th BSB. “When you assess the threats to a brigade support area in combat, a CBRN threat is a high priority, (and) our enemies are willing to use CBRN against us; this training will help to counteract that threat.”
Medical personnel from 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, decontaminate a simulated casualty in the decontamination and medical treatment site on Fort Carson, Sept. 29, 2016. (Photo by 1st Lt. Logan Bolitho)
In response to a suspected chemical attack at Qayyara Air Base in Iraq where U.S. forces are based, Pentagon spokesman U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said Sept. 27, 2016, that Islamic State militants are “dead set” on using chemical weapons and will likely try to use them against Iraqi forces as they prepare their siege on Mosul.
Many Soldiers have not had any exposure to CBRN threats outside of going through the gas chamber or exercises during field missions.
“I know when we are attacked by a CBRN threat, we yell ‘Gas, Gas, Gas’ and everyone dons their protective mask,” said Spc. Kaylee Lozada, human resources specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th BSB. “I knew that we had special equipment to detect and clean chemical agents, but until this training I had never seen it.”
The decontamination training consisted of two stations. Station one was how to decontaminate a vehicle hit with a chemical weapon. Soldiers used an M26 decontamination apparatus connected to a water source that fires a pressurized stream of water with a calcium mixture added in. The calcium water mixture breaks down the chemical agent on the vehicle and Soldiers use brushes to scrub off the chemical.
“The training will teach Soldiers how to properly decontaminate a vehicle,” said Sgt. Ronnie Hoffman, squadron CBRN NCO, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “We need to be prepared for any threat ISIS could throw at us.”
Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, decontaminate an M1133 Stryker Medical Evacuation Vehicle after using it to transport patients from a simulated contaminated area on Fort Carson Sept. 29, 2016. Soldiers participated in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear decontamination training to prepare for a possible chemical attack, Sept. 29, 2016. (Photo by 1st Lt. Logan Bolitho)
Medical Company C led the second station focused on decontaminating Soldiers who have been in CBRN attacks. When Soldiers are brought to the decontamination site, they are immediately stripped down of all non-essential items and their injuries are assessed. Any clothing which cannot be removed is cut away and all non-sensitive items are put into a bury pit. Soldiers are then scrubbed down with a solution and kept in a secure area.
“This is something we almost never train on,” said Sgt. Jason Walker, health care specialist, Company C, 4th BSB, 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “In my (10.5) years in the Army, I have only ever trained on this three times.”
The training in decontamination is a valuable skill for any Soldier to know. If there are no CBRN qualified Soldiers in their area, the knowledge becomes critical to whether Soldiers will live or die from the chemical agents.
“I felt it was extremely important training,” said Spc. Jacob Young, security manager, HHC, 4th BSB. “In today’s war, if a base is hit with gas, it’s important for everyone to know how to do this.”