PART A - OPERATIONAL DECONTAMINATION
Operational Decontamination makes use of two techniques: MOPP Gear Exchange
and Vehicle Washdown.
It is done in the unit's area of operation with
support from the battalion-level PDDE crews or from chemical company
decontamination squads.
Its purpose is to limit liquid or particle
contamination spread. This protects uncontaminated areas that can be used
for temporary MOPP-level reduction.
Operational Decontamination supports
battlefield mobility.
The small water requirements do away with the need to be near a water
source, and its small operational area (about 100 square meters) is easy to
conceal in forward areas.
Usually, squad-size elements use these two techniques.
Platoons or
companies should rotate squad-size elements one at a time through the
Operational Decontamination site.
1.
Units Involved.
Squad-size elements and occasionally platoon-size elements use Operational
Decontamination. The contaminated unit decontaminates its personnel. The
battalion PDDE crew decontaminates equipment with assistance from the
contaminated unit.
The Battalion tactical operations center (TOC) coordinates.
If the
Battalion has no decontamination assets, or more assets are required,
requests must be submitted to the next higher headquarters. Decontamination
squads from chemical companies may be available.
The battalion PDDE crew moves, supplies, and operates the battalion PDDE.
Although they provide the expertise and do most of the work for the Vehicle
Washdown, they work under the direction of the contaminated unit's
commander.
Chemical company decontamination squads reinforce the efforts of a battalion
PDDE crew by assisting in Operational Decon. The preferred method is to use
reinforcing decontamination squads to set up separate sites rather than use
multiple PDDE at one site.
This preserves the advantages of a small,
decentralized operation.
2.
The preparation phase includes all of the things that must be done before
any Operational Decontamination can take place.
CM2300
2-2
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