Mountain Post CBRN conference

By Spc. Shameka EdwardsJanuary 11, 2010

Classroom.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Carson, Colo. - Maj. Robert West, deputy chemical officer, 4th Infantry Division, discusses the latest chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats during the 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson CBRN Conference held at the 1st Brigade Comba... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
CBRN Conference.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Carson, Colo. - Soldiers and Department of Defense civilians from 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson tenant units listen attentively during a in the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Conference hosted at the 1st Brigade Combat T... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. - The 4th Infantry Division Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear section held a post-wide conference Dec. 17 to ensure Fort Carson Soldiers have the tools, resources and knowledge necessary to ensure mission readiness for future deployments.

More than 75 Soldiers and Department of Defense civilians attended the conference at the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div. Headquarters building to discuss the current unit requirements and tactics, techniques and procedures for chemical defense, said Sgt. Maj. Christopher Dubose, CBRN sergeant major, 4th Inf. Div.

"We put the conference together with information we felt the Soldiers would like to know," said Dubose. "At the next conference, we will take the feedback we're getting today and give the Soldiers what they feel they need."

Maj. Robert West, deputy chemical officer, 4th Inf. Div. started the conference establishing the ground rules for the classroom environment and working to camaraderie amongst the ranks.

"If you have a question raise your hand, state your favorite song and then pose your question," said West.

West used a slide presentation to outline the latest industrial material threats posed in Iraq and Afghanistan for the CBRN subject matter experts from 4th Inf. Div., Fort Carson tenant units and DoD civilians.

The enemy is employing industrial materials normally used for farming or textile production to make homemade explosive devices, said West.

"Many chemical Soldiers are out of the loop, we don't always get the chance to get the latest information," said Sgt. Damien Brey, CBRN specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd BCT.

The conference provided CBRN Soldiers with information covering a large scope of contemporary chemical operations, and was a great opportunity for Fort Carson chemical specialists to learn the standards.

The division chemical team plans to host a quarterly CBRN conference, said Dubose who briefed the enlisted Soldiers on topics such as, organization, manning, and assignments.

"The conference provided a great opportunity to give us a base of relevant information that actually applies to what we do," said Cpt. Jeffery Soltz, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., chemical officer.

"Hosting all the post's chemical Soldiers and civilians in one place builds esprit de corps and helps us understand our mission while we are deployed" Soltz said.

Soldiers and leaders can obtain the latest information presented at the 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson CBRN Conference on the division portal under the CBRN link.