Military

5-1. All combat operations or SASO have the potential to occur in an NBC environment. US policy neither condones nor authorizes first use of biological and chemical weapons. US policy concerning nuclear warfare is to deter and, if deterrence fails, to terminate the conflict at the lowest possible level of violence consistent with national and allied policy objectives. This policy does not preclude US first use of nuclear munitions.

5-2. Commanders and planners must assess an enemy's willingness to employ these weapons and the conditions that would prompt them to do so. For example, a virtually defeated enemy may resort to unrestricted warfare by any means to turn the tide of battle.

5-3. Use of WMD can result in extensive destruction and mass casualties. Only cohesive, disciplined, physically fit, and well-trained munitions units are able to function in an NBC environment. Long-term operations in this environment degrade even the best-trained soldiers. The wearing of NBC equipment for long periods decreases the ability of a munitions unit to provide support. Munitions leaders must train and equip all personnel to endure these conditions. By being prepared, munitions units can continue the support needed for combat forces to maintain the advantage over the enemy.

5-4. Command is more difficult in an NBC environment. Command, control, and support operations areas are likely targets. Control is difficult even within the smallest operation. The employment of WMD greatly alters the tempo of combat support, which in turn affects the combat mission. Munitions leaders must never assume they are immune to attack and need to consider ways of decreasing risk.

5-5. The immediate effects of a nuclear detonation are blast, thermal radiation, initial nuclear radiation, and EMP. These effects can cause significant personnel and materiel losses. Secondary effects include urban devastation, fires, and radiological contamination. EMP can affect unshielded electronic equipment and degrade C3I systems. Also, residual radiation can have long-term effects on personnel, equipment, facilities, terrain, and water sources. Munitions units and activities may be targeted for nuclear weapons attacks.

5-6. Although the US has renounced the use of biological weapons, many nations have not. Availability of biological weapons to potential enemies requires munitions leaders to prepare for operations in a biological environment. Defensive measures must be employed to reduce the effects of a biological attack. All munitions soldiers and civilians must receive adequate information, along with psychological and medical preparation.

5-7. Chemical weapons produce immediate and delayed effects that hamper operations by contaminating equipment, supplies, and critical terrain. Munitions leaders can reduce the effects of chemical use by applying the fundamentals of contamination avoidance, protection, and decontamination. Munitions leaders use chemical reconnaissance and decontamination as two planning imperatives for all missions. Training is key.

5-8. NBC defensive fundamentals include contamination avoidance, protection, and decontamination. Performing these fundamentals counters the effects created when WMD are used. Normal operations become more difficult, and overall efficiency is reduced. Munitions leaders must consider mission degradation and hazards when employing defensive fundamentals.

5-9. Contamination avoidance is key to providing munitions logistical support in an NBC environment. It is also the key to survival. Contamination avoidance consists of a number of individual and unit preventive measures that can be both passive and active. Passive measures include the use of concealment, dispersion, deception, cover, and OPSEC. These measures reduce the probability of an enemy using WMD and limit damage if such weapons are used. Active measures include detection, identification, marking contaminated areas, warnings, and relocating or rerouting to uncontaminated areas.

5-10. To increase survivability and supportability, munitions units must act quickly to avoid contamination, improve mobility, and lessen initial and residual effects of WMD. The following must be used whenever possible:

• Alarm and detection equipment.
• Dispersion (consistent with operational requirements).
• Overhead shelters.
• Shielding materials.
• NBC-hardened materials.
• Protective covers.
• Chemical-agent-resistant coating paint.
• NBC reconnaissance assets.
• Intelligence assets and reports.
• NBC-hardened shelters and tents.

5-11. Munitions stocks should be stored at dispersed sites. This helps to reduce the effects of WMD and complicates the enemy's target acquisition efforts. Also, munitions must be kept separate from other supplies and as mobile as circumstances allow. Resupply operations should be accomplished at night. All these measures work to keep the munitions support system functional and capable of supporting tactical missions.

5-12. Munitions units perform NBC reconnaissance within their AO. Specialized NBC reconnaissance units conduct reconnaissance outside the unit AO and the COMMZ. They provide contamination information to leaders, which assists in developing operational plans. NBC reconnaissance units report to NBC centers where information is analyzed and disseminated to units through periodic intelligence reports. Other units, other services, and allied units operating in the area provide added data. All this information combined gives leaders a more complete picture of the AO.

5-13. All units use organic detection and identification equipment to identify NBC items. With fielding of BIDS, munitions units will have an effective system for detecting and identifying biological agents. However, enemy forces may use biological and chemical items unknown to the US and beyond the capability of our identification equipment.

5-14. NBC reconnaissance and medical and intelligence personnel sample suspected CB items and forward the samples to supporting medical activities for identification. Once agents are identified, the information is transmitted to units through the NBC reporting center.

5-15. The ASCC operates a network of NBC warning and reporting centers. These centers provide information about NBC hazards and are the focal point for NBC battlefield contamination information. The NBC centers collect, consolidate, evaluate, manage, and disseminate NBC data reported by units, and interface with adjacent friendly and allied organizations. Through operations channels, they provide the evaluated NBC information to units in their AO. The unit leader uses this information to plan and execute the mission.

5-16. Detection and identification of WMD within the munitions unit AO limits exposure and adverse effects on munitions support operations. Units use organic detection and identification equipment to receive early notification of CB attacks. This early warning allows unit personnel to limit exposure by donning appropriate protective clothing. Also, BIDS helps limit the effects of large area attacks employing potentially catastrophic biological agents. Using data collected by BIDS, medical personnel can determine what preventive measures and treatment are required if exposure occurs.

5-17. Protection is initially an individual responsibility. At minimum, personnel must have IPE; this allows them to operate freely in a contaminated environment, but not without some degradation. Collective NBC protection provides rest and relief from continuous wear of IPE and a contamination-free work area for critical missions. Type I functions (i.e., C3I and light maintenance) are best performed while using some form of collective protection. Type II functions (i.e., storage, receipt, issue, and load configuration) require IPE with periodic breaks for rest and relief. Movable collective protection can be provided to those areas on a site where its not feasible to permanently emplace collective protection. Moveable collective protection could be placed at storage, receipt, issue, and load and configuration areas. Temporary rest and relief shelters should be provided as break areas within the ASA or ATP.

5-18. Munitions leaders must provide proper training in protection skills. Before encountering an NBC hazard, munitions units use MOPP and other available protective means to balance unit effectiveness with personnel survival skills. ASAs and ATPs are considered by the enemy to be prime targets for WMD.

5-19. Munitions support systems must be structured with the capability and flexibility to continue support operations in an NBC environment. Protective measures and procedures to offset the effects of WMD must be integrated into daily operations. In an NBC environment, frequent testing for contamination of supplies and assets is required. NBC monitoring must be continuous.

5-20. The presence of contamination reduces the effectiveness of munitions unit support. Contamination forces soldiers into IPE that degrades their ability to provide support. Once leaders understand the behavior and characteristics of contamination, they can take measures to avoid and reduce the NBC hazard. Considering these factors enables soldiers, planners, and leaders to integrate NBC defense measures into support and operations plans.

5-21. Different origins and forms of contamination create different types of hazards. To determine risk and method of decontamination, soldiers must understand contamination and what makes it dangerous. See FM 3-5 for more information on forms, types, and persistency of contamination hazards.

5-22. Leaders must understand negligible risk levels when making operational decisions. Negligible risk levels for CB contamination are those that cause mild incapacitation among no more than 5 percent of unprotected soldiers who operate for 12 continuous hours within one meter of a contaminated surface. Negligible risk levels for radiological contamination are measurements of 0.33 cGy or less. This level of radiation causes no more than 2.3 percent mild incapacitation to unprotected soldiers.

5-23. Decontamination, or decon, is the removal, destruction, or neutralization of contamination. Leaders must understand the reasons for decon and have a working knowledge of decon principles, types, and techniques. They must be prepared to make an assessment based on the following information:

• Operational situation.
• Available decon resources and METT-TC.
• Effects of decon on unit's ability to perform its mission.

5-24. IPE and collective protection shelters offer only a temporary solution. Decon is the more permanent solution.

5-25. Once a unit is contaminated, there are practical reasons for performing at least some decon as soon as possible. Leaders will follow the guidelines in this section when deciding which actions best support the mission.

5-26. When making the decision to decontaminate, consider resources available within the context of METT-TC. Before the decision is made, the following factors must be addressed:

• Lethality.
• Performance degradation.
• Equipment limitations.
• Spread of contamination.

5-27. Some kinds of contamination are so toxic they can kill or incapacitate within seconds after contact with exposed skin. Should the skin become contaminated, do the following immediately:

1. Stop breathing.
2. Mask.
3. Give the alarm.
4. Decontaminate the skin.

5-28. MOPP gear provides protection but degrades performance the longer soldiers are in MOPP. Using tools and weapons or operating equipment while wearing IPE is awkward and dangerous. The protective mask reduces the soldier's field of vision, causing a loss of depth perception. Also, soldiers cannot eat while wearing a protective mask.

5-29. Normal body functions are potentially dangerous in contaminated areas. The simple process of removing IPE to urinate or defecate could expose the soldier to contaminates. The seal on the protective mask or IPE garments may be broken while the soldier is sleeping. Also, wearing of IPE may increase the threat of heat injury. See FM 3-4 for more information.

5-30. Soldier performance decreases over time in MOPP. Leaders must conduct a risk assessment before soldiers in MOPP perform missions. The following tasks are degraded when soldiers are wearing MOPP gear:

• Navigating.
• Terrain orientation.
• Decision-making processes (leader fatigue).
• Communications.
• Maneuver formations.
• Convoy operations.
• Operating MHE.

5-31. MOPP gear provides protection from CB attacks. Agents can gradually penetrate the protective mask hood. However, the hood's protective qualities can be extended by decontamination. FM 3-4 provides information on filter and MOPP gear exchange and wear limits.

5-32. Leaders must consider time and resources needed to conduct decon versus the degradation caused by operating in MOPP. They must also understand that soldiers must move to a clean area to conduct unmasking procedures. Completion of hasty decon (MOPP gear exchange and vehicle washdown) reduces soldiers' risk based on the following:

• Decreases time soldiers are exposed.
• Provides temporary relief from MOPP.
• Decreases the risk of spreading contamination.

5-33. MOPP gear provides little direct protection from the hazards of radiological (rad) contamination, (i.e., radiation from fallout). However, wearing MOPP gear has indirect advantages. These include preventing inhalation of radioactive particles, keeping contamination off the skin, and greatly simplifying decon. Radiation contamination must be removed as soon as possible, and MOPP gear must be replaced.

5-34. All soldiers must avoid contamination as much as possible. Once a soldier and unit become contaminated, a quick and rapid decon is critical to prevent spreading to a clean surface or area.

5-35. The resources of manpower, time, and materiel are critical to the leader's decision on how to sustain operations. Leaders must apply two concepts in the decision-making process:

• Resource usage.
• Ability to sustain operations.

Leaders must know when, where, what, and how to perform decon by following the four principles discussed below.

5-36. First, decontaminate as soon as possible. This is the most important of the four principles. Contamination hazards force leaders to put the unit into MOPP; this immediately begins to degrade the unit's ability to do its mission. The sooner the contamination is removed, the sooner the unit can reduce MOPP levels and begin restoring the unit's level of support.

5-37. Second, decontaminate only what is necessary. Decontaminate only what is necessary to continue the mission. This helps sustain combat power. Consider the following factors when deciding whether decontaminating will interfere or help with the mission:

• Mission, "tempo of the battle," and unit munitions support requirements.
• Time available.
• Degree of contamination.
• Length of time unit has been in MOPP.
• Assets available to perform decon procedures.

5-38. Third, decontaminate as far forward as possible (limit spread). Contaminated soldiers and equipment should not be moved from the operational area if decon assets can be brought forward. This keeps the equipment on location where it is needed, allows decon to begin earlier, and limits the spread of contamination.

5-39. Fourth, decontaminate by priority. Clean important items of equipment first. Leaders must decide which equipment and supplies are most important to the mission at the time and prioritize them for decon. Since ASAs perform various operations, priorities may be organized by functional area.

5-40. The three levels of decontamination are immediate, operational, and thorough (fixed site). Below is a brief description of each level.

5-41. Immediate decontamination minimizes casualties, saves lives, and limits the spread of contamination. Immediate decon includes skin decontamination, personal wipedown, and operator spraydown.

5-42. Operational decontamination sustains operations and reduces the contact hazard. It also limits the spread of contamination, which may eliminate the need for MOPP gear or reduce the time it must be worn. This process includes vehicle washdown and MOPP gear exchange operations.

5-43. Thorough decontamination reduces or eliminates the need for individual protective clothing. Units carry out thorough decon with assistance from chemical units. It includes DTD and DED. See FM 3-5 for information on planning and executing the above levels of decon.

5-44. Munitions units must make every effort to provide uncontaminated munitions to units. Contamination avoidance measures must be emphasized. If uncontaminated munitions are not available, the available munitions must be decontaminated before they are issued or sent into a clean environment. Munitions support personnel must thoroughly understand decontamination roles and procedures. Because of their units' limited decon capability, available assets must be used effectively. When possible, weathering can reduce contamination to acceptable levels.

5-45. Protective overwraps on munitions containers protect the round in storage, reduce the effects of chemical agents, and make decontamination easier. If munitions are not packaged with protective overwrap, makeshift coverings (i.e., tarpaulins or plastic sheets) provide some protection and speed up decontamination. Protected munitions must be stored on a pallet that can be decontaminated.

5-46. Contaminated stocks are normally not issued, but are kept separate from clean stocks until decontaminated. In emergency situations, certain contaminated items may be issued. Contaminated items are issued only if they provide a decisive tactical advantage. Also, they are issued first to units that are contaminated. Only under the most extreme conditions are contaminated munitions issued to an uncontaminated unit. The decision to issue contaminated items is made by the authorized controlling commander. The decision to issue contaminated stocks is based on the following considerations:

• METT-TC.
• Criticality of items.
• Type of contamination.
• Extent of contamination.
• Resources available for decontamination.

5-47. Dealing with contamination means that leaders at all levels must take the initiative and be more innovative than ever before. Essential to the munitions unit's success is its leader's ability to "read the threat" and respond accordingly. Munitions leaders must do the following:

• Identify threat locations on the battlefield.
• Identify threat weapons and capabilities.
• Disperse and cover exposed munitions stocks to reduce vulnerability to contamination.
• Update the threat continually using intelligence assets.

5-48. Contaminated munitions must be transported with great care. Coordination must allow for flexibility in routing, marshalling, serializing, and communicating. Vehicles carrying contaminated munitions stocks produce vapor clouds. Vapor clouds are hazardous to the terrain, local population, and follow-on vehicles. The following measures can reduce the hazards of transporting contaminated munitions:

• Limit contamination as much as possible.
• Cover all loads with NBC-protective covers.
• Coordinate movement of contaminated munitions stocks with responsible MCC.
• Designate specific routes as MSRs for contaminated munitions stocks when possible.
• Designate units with collective protection vehicles as the primary contaminated munitions haulers.

5-49. Unit SOPs should be written IAW guidance contained in this chapter and in the following publications:

• AR 190 series (military police).
• AR 380 series (security).
• AR 385 series (safety).
• DA Pam 385 series.
• DO49 Technical Report DPG/TA-88/030. Decontamination of Selected Military Equipment: US Army Ammunition Stocks, September 1988.
• FMs 3-3, 3-3-1, 3-4, 3-4-1, 3-5, 3-7, 3-100.
• TC 3-4-1.

5-50. Command SOPs may be used as format and organization guidelines. At minimum, and in keeping with the mission of munitions support operations, SOPs will address the following areas:

• Dispersal of munitions within the storage area to prevent all of one type munitions from becoming contaminated.
• Contamination avoidance by using ISO containers, military-owned demountable containers, shrink-wrap, CARC paint, NBC-protective covers, pallets, and agent-resistant packaging materials.
• Priorities for protective covers.
• Collective protection for facilities.
• Procedures for identifying and marking contaminated stocks.
• Decontamination of personnel, equipment, MHE, facilities, and munitions.
• Priorities for decontaminating personnel, equipment, MHE, facilities, and munitions.
• Weathering of contaminated stocks.
• Transportation of contaminated munitions.
• Priorities for issuing munitions, including contaminated munitions.

5-51. This chapter provides only an overview of key considerations for munitions support in an NBC environment. It is not meant to replace current, relative FMs or other guidance provided by the references in paragraph 5-50. An understanding of the NBC threat and establishment of an effective learning program are essential to sustaining munitions support.