Nellis runs mandatory training sessions on chemical warfare

Jace Radke

Friday, March 28, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.

Tech. Sgt. James Lorik looked a little disheveled after pulling on his chemical-proof suit and gas masks during several drills at Nellis Air Force Base on Thursday.

Red-faced, with his hair shooting off in all directions, Lorik said he didn't mind the mandatory training.

"The suits are kind of hot and cramped, but it beats the alternative," Lorik said.

With the ongoing war in Iraq, attitudes about chemical warfare training have changed, said Tech. Sgt. Mike Johnson, who trains airmen in how to quickly get into their chemical suits and gas masks.

"The difference now is that people pay a little more attention when we're going over this in the classroom," Johnson said.

Military officials believe Iraq has stockpiled chemical and biological weapons and officials are afraid Iraqis may attack with those weapons.

Deployable Air Force personnel must undergo chemical warfare training every 15 months. The training includes a classroom lecture on chemical detection and alert procedures, before moving outside to a plain wood building where airmen are drilled on getting in and out of their suits as quickly as possible.

Airmen should be able to put the suits on in a maximum of eight minutes and the masks in 15 seconds. The suits include a pair of pants, a shirt, rubber boots, cloth and rubber gloves, and a gas mask with a hood to cover the airman's neck.

The pants and shirts are made of cloth with a charcoal liner to absorb chemicals, and then an inner layer of lining. The older version of the suit lasts for about 22 days unchallenged, while a newer version, which has a beaded charcoal layer and a built-in hood, can last 45 days unchallenged, Johnson said.

"What they're trying to do is give new suits to everyone who is deploying, but if they don't have enough they go with the old suit," Johnson said. "The old suits are still good, but they're a little dirtier because the charcoal is looser and not beaded."

Airmen are encouraged to help each other as soon as they have their suits on, and they all run checks on each other's suits to ensure that there are no breaches.

"It's actually pretty easy to do, but you want to practice it a few times so that you are familiar with the suit," Lorik said.

Training classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Nellis, and airmen who are deploying are encouraged to try their suit on at home a few times before leaving.