DEFENSIVE CHEMICAL MEASURES
Formal NBC reports should not be transmitted on battalion and company command nets due to their disruptive impact. The preferred procedure is for platoons and companies to send initial spot reports on the command net, followed by NBC reports on the admin/log net. Normally, the Co XO or NBC NCO makes the formal report. The TOC must temporarily switch a radio to admin/log or use one of the XO's radios if they have been remoted into the TOC.
MOPP posture decisions, to include when to unmask, must be made at battalion -- the first level with the staff to make a risk assessment. Just because the M-256 kit shows clear in a company area does not mean it is safe to begin unmasking.
The company NBC NCO must be forward with either the commander, XO, or FSO. He cannot perform his duties from the combat or field trains.
As best as can be determined in a training environment, our chemical defense equipment works well when used by units with discipline, knowledge, and motivation. The addition of NBC officers and NCOs at battalion and company levels has helped. A systematic rather than a decentralized piecemeal integration of equipment is key. As an example, the company must plan the placement of its M-8 chemical alarms to provide coverage for alternate and supplementary as well as primary positions. Also, repositioning must occur as weather conditions change.
While effective operations in MOPP require intensive training in both combat and support tasks, units can perform far better than I previously imagined. The amount of CS used at NTC is such that most organizations adopt the chemical suit as their duty uniform, upgrading with mask, gloves, and boots as the situation dictates. Yet, even in the middle of the summer with temperatures well in excess of 110 degrees F, defenses are successful, obstacles are breached, objectives are taken, and weapons are fired accurately. MOPP gear obviously degrades performance, but it is not a show stopper for well trained units.
Getting NBC warnings to elements not organic or attached to companies requires the use of all battalion nets, to include admin/log and mortar FDC. Each element in the task force area must monitor at least one battalion net, regardless of the support or command relationship.
Table
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Smoke
Attack
Helicopters/Joint Air Attack Teams (JAAT)
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