Army Chemical Review presents professional information about Chemical Corps functions related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, smoke, flame, and civil support operations.
Issue link: https://chemical.epubxp.com/i/533676
Summer 2015
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One of the topics that I remain focused on and concerned with is the CBRN readiness of our Army. The Army has not
focused on CBRN training or readiness for the last 14 years. And observations from combat training centers indicate that
CBRN training, readiness, and understanding have atrophied tremendously. Units lack basic CBRN skills such as the
maintenance and wear of protective masks and Joint Service, Lightweight, Integrated Suit Technology items; and they do
not integrate basic CBRN defense tasks and skills into overall unit operations. I see a tremendous opportunity for us, as
CBRN professionals, to help reset the Army in terms of CBRN training and readiness. I ask that you accept the challenge
and help the Army return to the basics of CBRN defense.
We are on a glide path with the implementation of the CBRN Force Design Update, which will allow CBRN operations
to be conducted "left of boom" to mitigate the impacts of weapons of mass destruction use and better enable the protection
of the force. In October 2015, our battalions will be converted to a standardized battalion structure with increased mainte-
nance and distribution capabilities. Regular Army maneuver support companies will be converted to hazard response com-
panies in April 2016, and Reserve Component maneuver support companies will be converted to the new design in October
2016. These multifunctional companies will be capable of conducting mounted and dismounted hazmat reconnaissance,
characterization, and assessment and performing personnel and equipment decontamination operations.
On 1 June 2015, the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School (USACBRNS) will transition from
the 10-week Warrant Offcer Basic Course taught by the U.S. Marine Corps to its premier 16-week warrant offcer course.
This course will provide in-depth instruction on all CBRN equipment, including training on advanced troubleshooting for
the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle; sensor suites; and CBRN detection and analytical equip-
ment. Based on the great progress that we have made in warrant offcer professional military education, I am confdent
that CBRN warrant offcers will add value to our Regiment by serving as technical experts who will manage and maintain
increasingly complex battlefeld systems.
provides a forum for professional development and the exchange of ideas. However, it also serves
as a window into a past that can provide an understanding of the present day and as a means to help determine how our
Regiment and our Army might develop into the future. Throughout the past few months, I have been reviewing previous is-
sues of , looking for "golden nugget" historical articles that are still valuable today. And I have found
that we have a healthy inventory of articles that are worth reading for professional development and for a better under-
standing of the application of CBRN capabilities, including articles that describe how to provide CBRN defense expertise
and capability at the National Training Center, explain the application of smoke/obscurants, and defne Army leadership.
Reading these and other historical articles also builds a personal understanding about how we as individuals are the sum of
a vast range of past experiences and active players who are in the process of change. I have directed my staff to make avail-
able to you a number of articles that continue to have universal or specifc applications to what we are doing today. Take the
time to read these articles and think about how you can apply the information contained in them. These articles are located
at