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
Regimental Command Sergeant Major Greetings chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) warriors! A multitude of regimental initiatives are allowing for a rapid move toward a change for the better. A pilot program that is currently underway within our advanced individual training formations is designed to require military occupational specialty 74D10 students to become hazmat technician-certifed before leaving advanced individual training. The 3d Chemical Brigade and the 84th Chemical Battalion are doing everything they can to ensure that this endeavor is successful. In addition, we are currently in the process of attempting to raise our military occupational specialty entrance standards. The proposal would elevate armed Services vocational aptitude battery skilled technical score requirements from 91 to 100. For comparison, the highest existing skilled technical score requirement is 112 for military intelligence systems maintainer/integrator. If the proposal is approved, it would impact accessions and result in an authorization of 5,840 CBRN Soldiers. In 2009, Headquarters, Department of the Army (DA), approved a design change Command Sergeant Major in which CBRN specialists Gabriel S. Arnold were removed from infantry, feld artillery, and support companies within the brigade combat team (BCT) structure; however, they are still authorized in armor and medical companies. The change was made, in part, to create company intelligence support teams to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over time, the action has led to a signifcant decrease in training and equipment readiness within BCT formations. The focus on counterinsurgency operations has caused individual and collective training and CBRN system readiness to suffer at the company level. Placing sergeants back into infantry, feld artillery, and support company formations would provide the expertise required for BCTs to focus on and achieve the required training and equipment readiness. It would also ensure the availability of subject matter expertise at the point of execution. Based on a structure of 32 BCTs, the cost of this recommendation would be 196 E-5 positions and 256 E-4 positions (452 total authorizations). "Placing sergeants back into infantry, feld artillery, and support company formations would provide the expertise required for BCTs to focus on and achieve the required training and equipment readiness. It would also ensure the availability of subject matter expertise at the point of execution." In addition, our Advanced Leader Course will transition to the One Army School System in July 2013. Under the One Army School System, the three Army components are trained together to one standard. We are also raising the standards for Advanced Leader Course graduation. In the past, students were allowed to graduate from the Advanced Leader Course with test scores between 70 and 80 (although they were unable to obtain hazmat certifcation). This will no longer be the case. NCOs will be required to achieve certifcation in order to graduate. We are striving to increase academic rigor across all professional military education and functional courses. Our largest project is our CBRN Force Design Update. The commandant of the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School (USACBRNS) and her team here at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE), Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, are working on this proposal. We are currently socializing this proposal with the feld and are receiving great feedback. In other news, we have begun planning and preparing for the Best Joint CBRN Warrior Competition. Unfortunately, due to signifcant Army budget constraints, it remains unclear whether we will actually be able to hold the competition this year. We are exploring several different options to determine the best course of action with regard to the competition. Finally, I want to congratulate all of the NCOs, warrant offcers, and commissioned offcers who were selected for command or advancement during our centralized selection boards. Remember, the difference between a boss and a leader is this: A boss says, "Go do this;" and a leader says, "Let's go do this." I am proud to serve with each and every one of you. Honor and glory to the Regiment! Elementis Regamus Proelium! 4 Army Chemical Review