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/759309
22 Army Chemical Review F or the Winter 2014 issue of , I submitted an article entitled "Filling the Void," which addressed the capabilities that chemical, bio- logical, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) officers needed to contribute to maneuver elements to be considered combat multipliers. 1 Since the completion of that article, I have served as an armored brigade combat team CBRN officer and gained new perspectives on what to bring to the fight. It is vital that we execute specific tasks to enhance CBRN technical proficiency in our formations. According to ADP 6-0, Mission , disciplined initiative is defined as "action in the absence of orders, when existing orders no longer fit situations, or when unforeseen opportunities or threats arise." 2 The Dic- tionary defines the word initiative as "the power or oppor- tunity to do something before others do." 3 Our failure to ex- ecute disciplined initiative can result in seizing a battle and simultaneously winning the war for opposing forces. How- ever, it has been stated in the past that, for every minute spent planning, 10 minutes of work can be saved. As CBRN professionals, both of these definitions pertain to our ability to gain an advantage to ensure the protection of our formations. However, one definition requires disci- plined action and the other does not. Today's Army faces a rapidly evolving enemy that requires consistent adjust- ments to counter threats and mitigate risk. Some Soldiers have become comfortable with the Army of old—so much so that they haven't realized that the acronym changed from nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) to CBRN. The CBRN Soldier requires disciplined initiative every day. Every action from CBRN intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance collection methods to decontamination must be deliberate. Critical thinking should be so close to the CBRN Soldier's heart that it could be considered an in- spectable item on his or her uniform. A Military Occupa- tional Specialty 74 Soldier in a non-CBRN organization is highly likely to be the only CBRN officer in the unit. His or her critical thinking skills will enable the commander's abil- ity to exercise the science of control during decisive-action operations. "Don't move—not until I give the signal!" This phrase has been used to define tactical patience and condition setting time and time again. Staffs support the commander by con- ducting the operations process, which consists of planning, preparing, executing, and continuously assessing scenarios. According to Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 3-37, Protection, CBRN Soldiers conduct the operations pro- cess to counter CBRN threats and hazards through weap- ons of mass destruction proliferation prevention, weapons of mass destruction counterforce, CBRN defense, and con- sequence management activities. 4 Conditions must be set to ensure that countermeasures are in place for every measure that enemy forces could implement. The battlefield should be approached like a game of chess. Every movement triggers another move. However, we must force the enemy decision-making cycle. With effective integration into the staff, it is easier to identify where assets should be placed on the battlefield. 5 The data required to make effective decisions consists of the— • Maximum effective range of weapon systems (fires warf- ighting function). • Location of toxic industrial material and toxic industrial chemical facilities (intelligence warfighting function). • Time required to conduct water resupply to decontami- nate sites (sustainment warfighting function). • Amount of water required to decontaminate every type of vehicle in the footprint (sustainment/mission command/ movement and maneuver warfighting function). This information is critical to setting conditions to tran- sition from a passive to an active CBRN defensive posture to divert, neutralize, or destroy CBRN weapons or delivery systems en route to a target. It can also be used to identify the priority of decontamination or alternate routes to decon- tamination sites when water resupply is unavailable. CBRN officers play an intricate role in setting the conditions that allow friendly freedom of action. Get after it! Knowledge Saves Lives I don't want to be the smartest guy in the room because if I'm smartest guy in the room, then we're all in trouble. This phrase isn't meant to demean anyone's intelligence. As (Continued on page 24)