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U.S. Embassy, Marines conduct NBC training in Kabul

USMC News

Story Identification Number: 20033542230
Story by Cpl. Douglass P. Gilhooly

KABUL, Afghanistan(Feb. 20, 2003) -- The Marines of Task Force Kabul, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-terrorism) and the U.S. Embassy staff trained together in a nuclear, biological and chemical warfare drill here, Feb. 20.

The task force's main purpose is to provide security to the embassy. However, it is important for the Marines and the embassy to be able to work in unison for a safe and healthy place to live and work. Conducting drills like that of an NBC attack is just one way to bring this team together.

The drill was set up as an attack on the embassy. Members of the staff worked as a decontamination team while a group of Marines acted as a monitor and survey team, said NBC Defense Specialist Cpl. Kevin P. Merrill for the task force.

"Today, the embassy and the Marines experienced a nerve agent attack," said Merrill, a native of Meriden, Conn.

"We can change the scenarios all the time, but the overall picture is how everyone responds," he said.

"The embassy has conducted several NBC drills and I think this is the best we have done so far," said Judy Sutton, Foreign Service Nurse Practitioner. "It is extremely important we continue to train in all aspects, considering the way the world is today."

She emphasized the fact that the military is trained in NBC, but the State Department is not. Therefore, she stressed the importance of the embassy personnel working together with the Marines in this drill.

"The State Department is required to do an NBC drill every 90 days," said Sutton. "But I feel we should practice until we get it right and we're doing great."

Other embassy staff assisted as first responders (volunteers to form a decontamination line), to make the training run as smooth as possible.

"The embassy was working by themselves at first, but now, things are a lot smoother with the help of the Marines," said Matt Weiller, General Services Officer for the embassy.

Weiller is one of the volunteers for the first responders. He said they set up six stations for the decontamination line. Each station contains different levels of bleach and water. The first station consists of a heavier bleach solution and as you go down the line the levels of bleach decrease.

"Although I feel it is important and excellent training, I hope we'll never have to really use it," said Weiller.

"As one of the first responders, I feel the training is extremely important because in a real life situation I have to know what I need to do," said Caroline Harley, another first responder and office management specialist for the embassy.

"As the only woman on the team," she continued, "I feel that I am a great aspect, because women have to go through the decontamination line as well as men, and otherwise they may have felt uncomfortable."

The Marines and embassy staff will continue to work together in these types of drills to strengthen their skills and their ever-growing bond. Their working relationship grows everyday and drills continue the connection.