FORT CARSON, Colo. —Staff Sgt. George Nieves, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, takes off his gas mask Feb. 6, 2019, during a gas mask confidence training at the gas chamber on Fort Carson. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)
By Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Harris, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, prepares to take off his mask Feb. 6, 2019, during a gas mask confidence training at the gas chamber on Fort Carson. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd IBCT, participated in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) training Feb. 6-7, 2019.
The training began with a refresher course on Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear levels.
“CBRN training is important because it allows Soldiers to maintain and build their confidence with all the equipment they are given,” said 2nd Lt. Marius Tchounke, CBRN, 2nd IBCT. “The goal is that Soldiers continue to practice those skills so when they are put in a CBRN environment, they are ready to react properly.”
The next stop after the refresher course was the gas chamber.
According to some of the senior leaders participating in the training, the gas chamber is a crucial part in building confidence with the CBRN equipment.
“In order to build confidence, you have to build muscle memory during training in a safe and controlled environment,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Harris, electronic warfare NCO in charge, 2nd IBCT.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Staff Sgt. George Nieves, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, seals his gas mask Feb. 6, 2019, during a gas mask confidence training. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)
Having subject matter experts at the gas chamber allowed Soldiers to go over anything they might not have understood, said Harris.
“A controlled environment gives Soldiers the opportunity to mess up and ask questions to correctly perform tasks, like sealing a gas mask properly,” said Harris.
Tchounke said he hopes the training allowed Soldiers to gain and refresh their knowledge on CBRN.
“Any Soldier could be out on a patrol and come upon a CBRN attack, and they need to know what to do, because at the end of the day missions still need to be completed,” he said. “It’s important that all Soldiers complete this training annually and take it seriously.”
The training not only enhanced CBRN skills, but it also brought a team-building aspect among the participants, he said.
“Training like this allows Soldiers with different (military occupational specialties) to come together and learn about each other,” he said. “The training was fun and knowledgeable and it worked out perfectly because I think it also built camaraderie, and I believe that camaraderie makes a unit stronger.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Soldier with 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, coughs after coming out of the gas chamber Feb. 6, 2019, during training at the gas chamber on Fort Carson. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct exercises inside the gas chamber Feb. 6, 2019, during a gas mask confidence training at the gas chamber on Fort Carson. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Soldier assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, breaks the seal of his mask Feb. 6, 2019, during a gas mask confidence training at the gas chamber on Fort Carson. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Pvt. Austin Ehler, with Bravo Company, 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, puts on rubber boots Feb. 6, 2019, during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear class on Fort Carson. Soldiers with 2nd IBCT conducted CBRN training followed by gas mask confidence training at the gas chamber. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)