Reserve Marines from Kansas spent two weeks on Fort Leonard Wood focusing on their Military Occupation Specialty -- Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear defense.
The 30 Marines and one Navy corpsman were here from the CBRN Defense Platoon, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Combat Logistics Regiment 4, Kansas City, Mo.
They were here for MOS enhancement training and sustainment training.
"We have Marines from Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska and Iowa. They report to Kansas City once a month. With the Reserves, we are dictated to do all of the annual training that active-duty Marines are required to do. But, instead of 365 days, we only have 38 days to get that in. To be able to focus purely on CBRN training is a unique opportunity for us," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Bauer, CBRN Defense Platoon commander, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Combat Logistics Regiment 4, Kansas City, Mo.
While on post, they spent three days at the Marine Corps Detachment's CBRN School house, learning plotting of CBRN attacks followed by a Joint Warning and Reporting Network class. They also trained at the Chemical Defense Training Facility, concentrating on reconnaissance and sampling -- once in a self contained breathing apparatus and once in protective mask.
They conducted two days of training at the Edwin R. Bradley Radiological Laboratories studying the principles of shielding, detection, identifying radioactive sources, radiological monitoring, radiation detection equipment, radiological site analysis, exploitation and decontamination.
"The Army and the Marines use the same radiological equipment, and our safety guidelines are the same. In fact, due to the nature of radiation, the U.S. and partner nations use the same tactics, techniques and procedures working around radiological material," said Sgt. 1st Class Donald Randall, ERB Radiological Laboratories noncommissioned-officer-in-charge.
Even though the Marines were the ones here to train, Randall said the rad lab's instructors also benefitted from their time with the Reserve unit.
"Hosting the 4th MLG was a great opportunity for our instructors to teach a class exclusively to Marine personnel. We do train some Marine personnel, but they are either a student in the Chemical Captains' Career Course or the Chemical Warrant Officer Basic Course."
The 4th MLG Marines also spent two days training with the Technical Escort branch at the Lt. Joseph Terry Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Responder Facility to study chemical processes and glasswork.
"We are Title 10 Forces, so we are used for civil support. We are trying to exercise the techniques needed in case we are called to action. We also provide support to our major subordinate command, 4th Marine Logistic Group and our regiment for any CBRN assistance needed," Bauer said.
"It's definitely a combat multiplier to be here. It's nice to have these facilities and subject-matter experts available. The Marine Corps Detachment here and all of the CBRN facilities on post have been great at providing instruction support to us," he added.
Bauer said the support they received on Fort Leonard Wood was first-class.
"The Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and the Marine Corps Detachment have been outstanding. They have bent over backwards to make sure we are supported and have the best training possible," Bauer said.
In addition, the Marines were able to update their annual requirements by using the post's CS gas (tear gas) Confidence Chamber for an Individual Protective Equipment Confidence Exercise.
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