Photo By Spc. Joshua Barnes | A chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear, specialist with Task Force Rattler,...... read more read more
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"I love CBRN," said Warrant Officer Kelly Osmon. "I love that it's not just one thing; there are so many aspects to it. It's not just putting on your gas mask and going to a CS [gas] chamber or checking your mask."
Osmon, with the 272nd Chemical Company, 79th Troop Command, Massachusetts Army National Guard, organized Dragon Defender, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare training exercise that brought together U.S. Army and Kuwaiti Land Forces personnel. The exercise allowed both forces to grow their partnership and build tactics, techniques and procedures in order to work together effectively and safely in potential real world situations.
"We have been doing monthly engagements [with Kuwait Land Forces] where we go to the Weapons of Mass Destruction Defense Center in Kuwait,” said Osmon. “We focused on mounted reconnaissance, extraction and decontamination, and this culminating event ties everything together.”
Staff Sgt. Gregory Brown, a CBRN specialist with the 272nd, was also impressed after working alongside the Kuwait Land Force during Dragon Defender.
"It's been great. They are super knowledgeable," said Brown. "They have great equipment. They have years of experience. They've shown us a few things and we've shown them a few things. It's a great partnership. Overall, this whole training exercise has been great. I think it's been a real eye-opening experience to see how they work and operate. We hope to continue this partnership in the future."
U.S. Army CBRN specialists are required to be prepared to identify and react to any CBRN threats. During a break in the training exercise, Brown shared some wisdom on reacting to threats.
"There's a lot of unknowns out there and we have to identify what it is," said Brown. “We will get called in to look at a certain site where they have a suspected known hazard in the area. Hopefully we identify what that is and mitigate that risk."
One unit that helps the 272nd mitigate risks is the 363rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 158th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Arizona Army National Guard, also part of Task Force Spartan.
"Being EOD, our job is to clear the scene of any explosive hazards," said Spc. Tyler Blackmore, an EOD specialist with the 363rd. "A lot of scenarios with CBRN weapons there will be booby traps or dispersal devices with explosives in them. That's our forte."
Blackmore said exercises like Dragon Defender are important in building and maintaining partnerships with other units.
"It’s been really cool to be able to work with [CBRN] because when we do [EOD] lanes, just EOD lanes, we have to notionalize all these things," said Blackmore. "'Oh we would have a chemical unit here to help us with this or take things over from here.' To actually be able to work with them was pretty cool. That's really important to work out all the kinks in a training environment.”
Dragon Defender may have been the culmination of a series of subject matter expert exchanges between the CBRN and EOD Soldiers, but the success from the training will be carried forward by all the participants, said Osmon.
"I'm excited because Dragon Defender sets the tone for every ongoing Dragon Defender that's going to happen," said Osmon. “I feel this is a great stepping off point for future training and really building that partnership with Kuwaiti Weapons of Mass Destruction Defense Command.”
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2023 00:26 |
| Story ID: | 443555 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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