MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, ISLAND OF OAHU, Hawaii -- MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS--Based on the threat from the "axis of evil" of which President George W. Bush has spoken, there may be a high risk that terrorists or hostile countries will either have developed the technology or already have the capability to employ weapons of mass destruction.
More than 120 Marines and Sailors from Combat Service Support Group 3, Marine Forces Reserve and 3rd Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, honed their nuclear, biological, and chemical techniques while performing a thorough decontamination exercise at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Dec. 10.
"We have to be prepared to counter that threat," said Staff Sgt. Caleb D. Eames, NBC officer, CSSG-3. "It all comes down to accomplishing the mission in a nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological environment."
During the exercise, the warriors from CSSG-3 sharpened their skills of decontaminating both equipment and personnel.
Some of the equipment decontaminated during the exercise included Humvee's, 5- and 7-ton trucks and amphibious assault vehicles.
"CSSG-3 rarely ever gets to practice decontaminating AAVs," said Sgt. Rex Johnson, NBC chief, CSSG-3. "Today's exercise will familiarize Marines with vehicles and equipment outside their everyday scope."
According to the NBC gurus at CSSG-3, this was the first time in the last year that the group as a whole participated in a decontamination exercise.
"This exercise sharpens our edge by letting us practice what we preach," said Cpl. Clint Schwartz, NBC training NCO, CSSG-3. "In addition, it allows Marines to learn how they are going to need to operate in a real-world situation."
All in all, this exercise provided the group and other units involved with the opportunity to enhance and sustain some much-needed survival training while still performing their everyday tasks.
"If the support is not ready for this type of threat, then we can't perform our mission of supporting the infantry," said Sgt. Keith Miller, NBC specialist, CSSG-3. "That's what combat service support is all about."