• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Camp Patriot Helps Train Peninsula Shield Forces

Story Number: NNS030306-03
Release Date: 3/6/2003 1:28:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class Joseph Krypel, Commander, Camp Patriot Public Affairs

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait (NNS) -- Approximately 100 United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sailors and Airmen participated in coalition forces chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) training conducted by U.S. Navy members recently.

The UAE forces have come to Camp Patriot, Kuwait, in support of the Gulf Country Council (GCC) protective resolution, called Peninsula Shield.

Lt. Cmdr. Edan Antoine, Camp Patriot coordinator for CBR-defense training and supplies, conducted the hour-long refresher.

"This is another chance for servicemembers in the area - from every nation - to get the ongoing training that is provided," explained Antoine. "You can never get too much training when it comes to this kind of stuff."

Antoine and the UAE students discussed and walked through the various steps taken in mission oriented protective posture (MOPP) levels.

"Different levels offer different measures of protection and are put in place, in advance when possible, to protect the folks that are here," Antoine said.

MOPP levels range from zero to four (0-4). Zero, being the most relaxed, requires servicemembers to carry their protective masks at all times and be within 10 minutes of the balance of their protective gear.

MOPP level 4, the highest level of preparedness, has the individual fully dressed-out in protective suit, boots, gloves and mask.

"It's important to remember that at any time and for any length of time, you could be called to a higher level of protective posture," Antoine reminded the class. "It could be a matter of minutes, hours or days before you stand-down or ramp-up to the next level."

First Lt. Ahmad Turky, a Super Puma pilot in the UAE National Aviation Force, thought the training provided by the American servicemen was excellent, as well as necessary.

"We all go through the same training, but on different sides of the world," said Turky. "Training refreshers like these give us both new perspectives and allows us to build our coalition with the people that care as much about our neighbors, Kuwait, as we do as members of the GCC. Now we train together here in the same region with mostly the same equipment."

In addition to protective gear "donning" and preparation, Antoine touched on personal decontamination procedures and individual medication guidelines that could become necessary in the event of a chemical or biological attack.

Antoine is deployed with a subordinate unit of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 51. CTF 51 is in the Central Command Area of Responsibility conducting training and operations in preparation for any possible future tasking.

Camp Patriot is a joint command comprised of multiple units from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.