MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Marines entered a smoky, dimly-lit room where chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialists commanded them to break the seal of their masks, exposing them to the effects of CS gas.
This event is part of the Marine Corps’ annual training requirements and prepares Marines for the possibility of a chemical-warfare situation.
To ensure Marines grasp the basic fundamentals of the gas-chamber exercise, instructors teach nine classes that cover protective equipment and the course of action inside the chamber.
“Marines receive classes on Mission Oriented Protective Posture, how to properly don all the gear, how to treat a casualty and proper decontamination,” said Philadelphia native, Cpl. Evan R. Stevenson, a CBRN defense specialist with Marine Aircraft Group 11. “After the classes, they learn to have confidence in their gear inside the gas chamber.”
While the CBRNs prepare the gas chamber, Marines wait outside in lines. In the middle of the room, instructors break open capsules of the CS powder into a Bunsen burner, causing a thick grey cloud of smoke to fill the room.
“CS gas is a riot agent,” said Lance Cpl. Devin J. Taranto, a CBRN defense specialist with MAG-11 and a North Haledon, N.J., native.
The gas causes symptoms like tearing up, producing snot, burning of the eyes, skin inflammation, coughing, sneezing and extreme discomfort, he explained.
“You are so uncomfortable that you want to get out of the area,” said Sgt. Rachel E. Campbell, the noncommissioned officer in charge with the CBRNs of MAG-11 and a Tacoma, Wash., native. “Unless you know how to control you reactions, like we’ve been trained to do, you’re kind of going to freak out.”
Once inside the chamber, Marines put one hand on the front of the gas mask and breathe out to clear it of any harmful air that may have entered. After they’re confident the mask is clear, they put both hands on the air cartridges and breath in again to make sure the mask is securely sealed to their skin.
“In a contaminated environment, you’re not just going to stand as still as possible,” said Taranto. “So we do a series of exercises, like bending at the waist, shaking your head vigorously, and side straddles hops – just to show that once the mask is sealed, it’s going to stay sealed.”
“We count off before you break the seal, you know, ‘one, two, three, close your eyes, hold your breath.’ Then we tell [the Marines] to loosen the two cheek straps and break the seal by poking the first two fingers of each hand through the seal of the mask and pull it away from their face for about 30 seconds,” said Taranto.
All this is done to show that Marines can re-don and clear their masks if something should go wrong, Taranto added.
Once Marines get the all clear, they leave the chamber to strip their MOPP gear off using the buddy system. The buddy system is used to make sure a Marine doesn’t contaminate himself.
“There are three ways to do MOPP gear exchange, but the buddy system is the best,” said Taranto. “Your buddy is taking [the MOPP gear] off very delicately, while you’re making sure he doesn’t [accidentally contaminate] you.”
No matter how many times a Marine has been through the training, each course is essential to a Marine’s success in the battlefield. Even if he never has to use it, the knowledge is still there.
“I’ve been through [the gas chamber] about 15 times, so I’m not scared,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jeremy L. Hammock, a power plant production control chief with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11. “You never know when you’re going to need that kind of training.”
Although Hammock himself has not seen this training used in actual combat, he said a Marine never knows when he is going to have to teach this training to a younger Marine.
The information from each class and the confidence in the gear Marines use will be passed from generation to generation, from senior Marine to junior Marine, allowing the Corps to maintain its first-to-fight mentality.