MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA, BELLOWS, Hawaii -- MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA, Bellows - In 1998, terrorists used cesium 137 to produce a bomb to destroy the U.S. embassy in Kenya. The combination of high explosives used was known as a "dirty bomb."
Five years later, on Aug. 7, Marines from the Combat Service Support Group 3 received a mission.
The mission called for the Group to assist Marines from the 2nd Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, in decontaminating themselves and equipment as they were evacuated from a combat zone after a "dirty bomb" attack.
Upon being inserted into Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, by Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 24, CSSG-3 wasted no time getting to work decontaminating the infantrymen.
The "victims" from 2/3 arrived in Mission Orientated Protective Posture level 4 and quickly moved into an eight-station decontamination site. Approximately 75 warriors were in dire need of decontamination.
"This training is of extreme importance," said Staff Sgt. Caleb Eames, NBC instructor with CSSG-3. "The Marine Corps often trains for chemical attacks, but rarely does it train for radiological attacks such as those involving cesium 137. These kinds of attacks are very likely in the war against terrorism."
Decontaminating troops is a thorough process. In the first station, tactical gear is removed, washed and held for reissue, while the protective mask is washed and rinsed with a sponge while still on the Marine's face in station two.
The "victim" removes his outer protective garments without contaminating the rest of his body in the third station. He does not remove his protective boots and gloves until station four, where he then removes his combat utilities.
All gear is put into the same bag, so it can be reissued after the decontamination process is complete.
While in station five, an ANVDRZ, a radiation detection device, checks the Marines for any signs of radiation or chemicals.
Once the protective mask is removed in station six, it is washed, rinsed and sanitized. Then the Marine is instructed to keep his eyes closed until station seven, where he is reissued all his equipment and re-dresses in station eight.
"It was hot in that suit," said Pfc. Murfin Barnett, a rifleman for Echo Co., 2/3. "This was realistic training though.
All infantrymen know that in the war on terrorism, NBC attacks are always going to be a factor."
"This is the kind of training where the whole unit has to work together," said Pfc. Ryan Hudson, an administrative clerk for CSSG-3. "This was my first exposure to this kind of situation.
"We were all motivated and we got the job done."