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Bioengineers keep Osan breathing

Navy NewStand

April 14, 2003

By 1st Lt. Tom Montgomery
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN Air Base, Republic of Korea -- Alarm Blue Scud . Alarm Blue Scud . booms the voice emanating from speakers all over Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Airmen all over the base close their eyes and hold their breath in unison. An exercise attack has occurred.

In one quick motion, the MCU-2AP protective mask is removed from its carrier as Osan airmen strap it on their heads.

The air inside the mask is purged, the seal is checked, and airmen all over base open their eyes, and inhale in unison.

Airmen seek shelter and check their buddies to make sure their protective suits are on snug and correct. Then the wait begins. Airmen remain in their defensive fighting positions, shelters, buildings, hangars and command centers to wait for the deadly chemical attack to finish.

Alarm Black Limited Release . Alarm Black Limited Release blares the voice. Then, even as poisonous slime and vapor cover the base, a few brave airmen carefully walk into the open and begin to assess the situation. The airmen are members of the 51st Bio-environmental Flight, and their job is to be the first out the door in a chemical attack.

"Our primary missions are preventive medicine, hazardous material response, occupational injury and illness, and of course, chemical and bio-warfare agent detection," said Maj. Timothy Mukoda, 51st Bio-E Flight commander.

It's a dirty job, but somebody has got to do it. If Osan was attacked by chemical or biological weapons, it might be hard to tell. So experts are required to gather physical evidence of the attack; what Maj. Mukoda calls "confirmatory analysis."

According to published guides for airmen, in the event of a chemical attack there won't be a large boom. It would likely sound like a dull pop or a dud. As such, the absence of a crater does not mean the base is safe.

The importance of detecting these agents is paramount. "The operability of the base depends on our team getting out there and looking for chemical contamination," said Maj. Mukoda.

"We are among the very first people to see what is going on," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Vincent, 51st Bio-E Flight disaster preparedness support team member.

The teams employ state-of-the-art technologies to detect chemical agents. "Here at Osan we see a lot of the most advanced concepts in the Air Force," said Maj. Mukoda.

Osan Air base is currently undergoing an Operational Readiness Inspection. (PACAFNS)