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/141522
especially since our role seems to be less appreciated. Hazmat
and technical escort teams are modern developments, but
we need to expand these concepts and develop a combat or
tactical hazmat team that combines expertise and missions.
Smaller elements with appropriate skills and equipment could
provide CBRN assistance to a unit encountering a CBRN
situation. The conversion of CBRN reconnaissance platoons
to CBRN/security platoons (combat-ready CBRN units that
have multipurpose capabilities and are prepared to operate in
any hostile environment) should be seriously considered. The
effcient use of CBRN and combat skills together would give
any combat arms unit an important edge.
Evolve or Dissolve
At the time of this writing, the modifed table of organization
and equipment for brigade special troops battalions had
just been changed so that the security section was no longer
included. However, the brigade special troops battalion need
not be staffed with Military Occupational Specialty 11B and
74D Soldiers; instead, it could be staffed with a new breed of
74-series Soldiers. The fact that the Chemical Corps needs to
be restructured in terms of units, purpose, and training cannot
be overstated. We say that we rule the elements, but we are
not adapting well to the modern Army—and this is especially
true among combat arms units, where CBRN training is often
devalued and deferred. Many hardworking CBRN offcers try
to provide their battalions with some sort of training—only
to be shunned by the battalion commander and bombarded
with additional duties. However, the response to combined
1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat
Team, 1st Cavalry Division, CBRN/combat missions has been
positive. Perhaps this experience can serve as a source of
inspiration for other CBRN units and young CBRN offcers.
I'm not suggesting that the curriculum be tossed out, but an
update is overdue. The formation of other CBRN/security
platoons would be an excellent start.
References:
FM 3-11, Multi-Service Doctrine for Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, and Nuclear Operations, 1 July 2011.
FM 3-11.19, Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and
Procedures for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical
Reconnaissance, 30 July 2004. (Superseded by Army
Techniques Publication [ATP] 3-11.37, Multi-Service Tactics,
Techniques, and Procedures for Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, and Nuclear Reconnaissance and Surveillance,
25 March 2013.)
FM 3-19.15, Civil Disturbance Operations, 18 April 2005.
(Currently undergoing revision.)
Winslow Tandler, "Leveraging the Chemical Corps," Army
Chemical Review, Winter 2011, pp. 13–14.
Albert J. Mauroni, Chemical-Biological Defense: U.S.
Military Policies and Decisions in the Gulf War, Praeger,
Westport, Connecticut, 1998.
Editor's Note: FM 3-11, Multi-Service Doctrine for Chemical,
Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Operations—the
keystone multi-Service CBRN manual—has been updated
twice during the past 10 years. The current (1 July 2011) edition
represents a major revision from previous versions, focusing
on the prevention and/or elimination of threats and hazards.
FM 3-11 incorporates the eight combating WMD military
mission areas into a tactical-level lexicon with validated
lessons learned from ongoing counterinsurgency operations.
In addition, Army Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (ATTP)
3-11.36 (Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures
for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Aspects
of Command and Control, 12 July 2010) was created to
address the unique employment and mission command of
CBRN assets and ATTP 3-11.23 (Multi-Service Tactics,
Techniques, and Procedures for Weapons of Mass Destruction
Elimination Operations, 10 December 2010) was established
to fll the gap for the employment of general and technical
CBRN forces that conduct WMD elimination operations.
Furthermore, ATP 3-11.37 (Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques,
and Procedures for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and
Nuclear Reconnaissance and Surveillance) was updated
(25 March 2013) to account for the NBCRV platform
and hazard assessment and dismounted-reconnaissance
capabilities. Further discussion is available on the Protection
Warfghter Forum (WfF) Net at