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Multiple base agencies conduct a joint chemical response exercise

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrick Evenson
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Public Affairs
U.S. Airmen from multiple agencies participate in a joint chemical response exercise at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Nov. 25, 2017.

The 379th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, 379th Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight and 379th Readiness and Emergency Management Flight, responded to a simulated chemical agent threat from an improvised rocket-assisted mortar that was launched over the perimeter fence of the base.

In the scenario EOD had to first determine the immediate threat of the unknown object. The robotic ordnance neutralization system, which has chemical detection capability, was used to perform initial reconnaissance on the object.

Once the initial tests from the robot came back positive for the presence of a chemical agent, EOD technicians were deployed with protective hazardous material suits to access and document the munition and neutralize any explosive threat if any existed.

Members of 379 CEX and 379 BEE were then cleared to perform chemical agent tests to detect and identify blister and nerve agents that might be present as either liquid or vapor.

The exercise concluded with 379 CEX establishing a contamination control area where participants were instructed how to properly decontaminate each other after being exposed to hazardous chemical agents.