GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- “You have six minutes; go!” the instructor yelled as Airmen quickly donned their mission oriented protective posture gear.
Representing every unit of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, more than 200 Airmen received hands-on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Grissom’s base supply recently.
Stemming from a change in requirements, CBRN training is now required every 18 months.
“We were tasked by the Department of Defense to prepare an additional cadre of Airmen to be deployment ready with CBRN training experience,” said Dan DeAngulo, 434th Mission Support Group base emergency manager. “This is an updated Air Force guideline based on a real world threat.”
The CBRN training served both as a refresher for the experienced, and taught junior Airmen the ability to survive and operate in wartime conditions. Grissom’s training event consisted of various activities spread across eight stations.
“CBRN is a perishable skill,” DeAngulo said. “For many of the support unit type codes they haven’t had any hands-on training in the last seven years. If Airmen don’t wear their gear right, they’re not going to be able to protect themselves or their battle buddy.”
Scott Shives, 434th Communications Squadron wing information system security manager and CBRN training augmentee, says the training is crucial for all Airmen to know.
“I was deployed during Desert Storm and have 27 years in the military so I’ve been around CBRN training many times,” he said. “There are young Airmen who’ve never had a chance to wear the gear. Now they’re learning from older Airmen who’ve been through this training a hundred times. It really helps develop our overall wing readiness.”
DeAngulo said all deployable Airmen at Grissom will be receiving the hands-on training within six months.
The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.
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