EXECUTION PHASE 

This phase is the actual conduct of the two operational decon techniques: the vehicle wash down and the MOPP gear exchange. Companies will provide their own security while vehicle wash down and MOPP gear exchange are in progress.

When finished, troops mount their vehicles and move to their new battle positions. For planning purposes, the vehicle washdown site will process one vehicle every 2 to 3 minutes; and MOPP gear exchange will take approximately 30 minutes.

Vehicle Wash Down Before vehicle washdown, units conduct the operator's spray down to increase decon effectiveness. Ensure that water pressure is from 60 to 120 psi; the pressure rate at which most gross contamination can be removed. Vehicle wash down is conducted as far forward as possible and is done by the battalion decon crew. The decon crew will use the power-driven decon equipment (PDDE) currently available in the TOA to conduct vehicle wash down, such as the M12A1 or M17 power-drive decon apparatus (PDDA). If the mission permits, it is most effective to conduct vehicle wash down between 1 to 6 hours after contamination. The longer you wait to remove or neutralize contamination, the harder it will be to do so. Also, the longer you wait, the more opportunity there will be for agents to spread and make contamination problems worse.

Each vehicle receives a 2-to 3-minute vehicle wash down with hot, soapy water from the PDDE. Vehicle operators maintain visual contact with each other to know when to move from concealment to the washdown area. The PDDE operator gives a signal when vehicles are required to move into position. Personnel in wheeled vehicles should dismount before wash down to avoid getting wet. Following this, the vehicle moves to the MOPP gear exchange area. Troops will dismount and conduct MOPP gear exchange by squad or vehicle.

Depending on the availability of equipment, METT-T, and the tactical situation, units have the option to select a one- (table 6-1 and fig. 6-4) or a two-lane wash down. When using two M12A1 or other combinations of decon equipment, two-lane operational decon speeds up the process (table 6-2 and fig. 6-5). Because speed is important and detection is difficult, do not check vehicle for contamination after vehicle only gross contamination. wash down. Remove

Mopp Gear Exchange Mopp gear exchange is done by squads or crews so that leaders can control the rate of overgarment exchange. This procedure also ensures that adequate stocks of overgarments at company level are maintained and accounted for. Two Seabees can work as a buddy team, or a Seabee can execute the technique by himself. However, when squad leaders supervise, they can prevent unnecessary exchanges of MOPP gear by using the chemical agent monitor (CAM).

During the MOPP gear exchange, you change your contaminated MOPP gear for new, uncontaminated gear. The squad or platoon is responsible for conducting its own MOPP gear exchange at the assembly area of the operational decon site. Decontaminants and chemical suit replacements are provided by supply (S-4) and issued near the decon site.

MOPP gear exchange removes nearly all liquid or solid contamination from you and your individual equipment. When personnel have little, if any, vapor hazards on themselves, they may use hazard-free areas to unmask, to eat, to drink, and to rest temporarily. Before unmasking and lowering MOPP levels for temporary relief, conduct unmasking procedures using the CAM.

Eight steps are used in MOPP gear exchange. The squad forms a circle around a lead team, typically the squad leader and another Seabee. The troops are paired into buddy teams and spaced around the circle with 1 to 3 meters between teams. Members of each team alternate as they go through step 1 (decon gear). At steps 2 through 7, one member completes all steps with the assistance from the other team member. Roles are then reversed. See table 6-3 for detailed instructions on this method.

These techniques do not guarantee safe conditions required to allow unmasking on or near equipment. However, troops may move upwind of dirty vapor equipment into a clean area or collective protection shelter, check for contamination, and then briefly unmask. Conduct continuous contamination checks and monitoring to ensure you stay in clean areas. Use the M258A1 kit and check it every 15 to 20 minutes. Use the CAM every 5 minutes. Use the CAM together with unmasking procedures. Three types of procedures are used for MOPP gear exchange: buddy team, triple buddy system, and individual MOPP gear exchange.

Table 6-1.-

One-Lane Wash Down SITE CLEARANCE PHASE vehicle washdown area and wash the decon Although the operational decon operation is done equipment, including hoses, after the operation is rapidly with little site preparation, these areas will be completed. Wet weather gear or TAP aprons should contaminated when the operation is completed. This be decontaminated with STB slurry and retained for could be a hazard to friendly forces reoccupying the area. future use. If MOPP gear exchange is done at a different location, the contaminated company will be

Cleanup required to clean up after itself.

The PDDE crew of the unit cleanup the MOPP Marking and Reporting gear exchange area. They bury or burn the contaminated refuse and retrieve any unused

decontaminants. Burning will cause a downwind The PDDE crew of the battalion marks the vapor hazard. Burying is the preferred method of operational decon site with standard NBC warning disposal of contaminated waste. If you burn it, markers and reports the contaminated area to the COC. The COC sends out a NBC 5 report that alert friendly notify the COC; the COC will notify any units that forces to avoid the area. may be affected by the vapor hazard.