MCAS FUTENMA, OKINAWA, Japan – -- Marines scuff their boots in the dim concrete room. The sky was bright but inside the room, smoke deepened the shadows. The air inside the chamber heated and burned their skin, a herald of the misery that was to come.
The unassuming concrete hut isolated alongside the road is known as the gas chamber. It simulates a gas attack, allowing Marines to build their confidence in both themselves and their equipment in the event of a real attack.
“If I just gave a Marine a gas mask and told them to put it on in a gas attack, without training them, they would freak out,” said Staff Sgt. Willie Alvarado, a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense specialist with Headquarter Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “They would put the straps on too tight, the seal unbroken and they would have no confidence that their gear would work. Training the Marines and giving them confidence in their gear will help them stay calm and accomplish the mission at hand.”
All Marines endure the dreaded training either annually or bi-annually depending on their duty station. The training consist of a class where CBRN Marines explain the different types of attacks used, how chemicals can be spread and what Marines need to do to protect themselves in the event of an attack. They show images of skin bubbling with infections, burns that cover entire limbs and list the symptoms a person can suffer if caught in an attack unprepared. After, the Marines are shown how to fit their masks on properly and given time to practice before approaching the deceptively unassuming gas chamber.
“The Marines suit up in mission oriented protective posture gear and get a safety brief,” said Cpl. Christopher Moncrief, a CBRN defense specialist, with MAG-36. “In the chamber the 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, also known as CS gas, is ready for them. They enter and we test their range of motion in the gear, having them move and jump around. When that is done and everyone is ready, they are told to break the seal of the mask with two fingers. After the masks have been checked, they can seal and clear the masks to finish the training.”
The MOPP gear is stuffy and the chamber is hot as Marines count down the seconds until they are done. The discomfort endures even after they leave the chamber. The gas seeps into the grass around the chamber as more Marines leave. It clings to the Marines’ hair, skin and clothes, leaving them burning and teary eyed.
“This training is important because it’s a threat that can happen anytime and anywhere and it could be deadly,” said Moncrief. “We can help by helping Marines get familiar with their gear and how it works, saving a lot of lives.”
Marines endure the misery until the soothing touch of a cool shower can wash the residue of the gas off. The water rejuvenates them, fortifying them to face the rest of their day.