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BLT begins NBC training, prepares for possible chemical attacks

USMC News

Story Identification Number: 20033713842
Story by Cpl. Kevin Paul

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz.(Feb 27, 2003) -- ABOARD THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD -- It is the night before Christmas, and all through the town, not a creature is stirring, except for the hounds. On a security patrol, a pack of devil dogs move in silence, darting between buildings and shadows, making sure they are not followed.

They move through the town's shopping district and stop to ensure the area is secure.

As they confer using hand signals, the point man hears a plane quickly approaching. His arms rise, and he runs in a circle, imitating an airplane. As the plane comes into view, the squad notices it releases a yellow mist.

The Marines begin to scramble and attempt to thwart this chemical attack. After donning their gas masks, one Marine gets on his radio to call company headquarters.

"(BZZT), Line Bravo, west bearing 777798, Line Charlie, from 161 degrees to 127 degrees, Line Delta, 2409492 Dec 01, Line Echo (BZZT), Line Golf, spray, Line Hotel, unknown, Line Zero Bravo, attack lasted two minutes, sprayed yellow mist," the Marine yells over his radio.

To some, the message might sound like some form of code or gibberish, but to infantry Marines, this is the way to identify a chemical attack has occurred, ensuring other Marines won't fall prey to the trap.

The above scenario was one of many given to a classroom full of infantry Marines aboard THE USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) Jan 21.

Training officials from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., gave classes to update the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical training to its monitor survey team.

According to Chief Warrant Officer-2 Robert Gabrych, 3/1 NBC officer, every company in the battalion has a designated NBC specialist. Their job is to monitor sites for contamination and survey an area to locate actual contaminants.

Gabrych said infantry Marines should be prepared for any kind of situation, especially now that they are currently on deployment around the North Arabian Sea.

"We're training them to make sure if they do perform NBC operations in the field, they'll be up to speed," said Gabrych.

According to Cpl. Jonathan B. Davis, 3/1 NBC chief non-commissioned officer, there is a misnomer about chemical attacks.

"NBC is not a special type of warfare," said Davis. "It's just another battle condition. We need to be prepared to fight because we're not going to stop operations just 'cause there's gas."

Davis said during the Persian Gulf War, there were about 50 incidents of chemical detection.

"They weren't necessarily attacks, but areas that were detected or found with munitions," said Davis. "Twenty of those situations had Marines involved."

In case Marines run into a contaminated area, Davis said the members of the monitor survey team would be ready. During the classes, the Marines practiced donning techniques, equipment usage, surveying a contaminated area and field marking.

Davis said training officials plan to continue conducting the classes during the coming weeks.

"We're going to work with these guys every day, and over the course of the float, we'll have sustained training," said Gabrych. "It comes down to the NCO level, he has to make sure his squad and fire team is ready."