DETAILED TROOP DECON SUMMARY

Three lines are established when setting up for detailed troop decon: contamination control line (CCL), liquid contamination line (LCL), and vapor contamination line (VCL). It is critical that contamination is maintained at each line and does not cross each line. Eight stations are used for

detailed troop decon. Table 6-5 is a company level detailed troop personnel and equipment recapitula-tion for each station.

Table 6-5.- Detailed Troop Decon Personnel and Equipment Recapitulation

DETAILED EQUIPMENT DECON (DED) 

ALFA Company is normally responsible for the setup, the operation, and the closure of the DED portion of the thorough decon operation. The COC will select the DED site. The DED for chemical and biological contamination is comprised of five stations. For radiological contamination, the DED uses all but station 2, DS Application. Actions at each station are described below. Appendix VI is a work/ rest table for DED.

Station 1- Initial Wash The objective of this station is to remove the gross contamination and dirt from the vehicle. The vehicle is sprayed for 2 to 3 minutes with hot, soapy water. The vehicle is then scrubbed to help remove caked-on dirt. The mechanical action of scrubbing also helps remove thickened chemical agents. Although the undersurface is difficult to reach, try to remove as much dirt as possible. This station will use approximately 250 gallons of water per vehicle. Larger vehicles or vehicles with large quantities of dirt will use more water. The runoff from this station is contaminated and must be treated as hazardous. This station requires high water pressure systems (M12A1 PDDA), rather than high water volume systems (65-gpm pumps).

Hot, soapy water is water heated to about 120 F to 140 F to which a detergent has been added. Hot water alone is less effective than hot, soapy water. Because of the high temperature, some agents are best removed by steam through vaporization. Finally, for some chemical agents cold water exhibits better solvent characteristics.

Station 2- DS2 Application The objective of this station is to apply decontaminant to the entire vehicle. The vehicle is divided into four parts, and a member of the scrubbing team is assigned each part of the vehicle. This limits the work load of each member of the scrubbing team and avoids duplication of work. DS2 is applied starting at the top of the vehicle and working toward the undercarriage. Every effort is made to apply DS2 to the undercarriage, especially if the vehicle has crossed a contaminated area. The mop is the least tiring method of applying DS2. Using a mop to apply DS2 creates a large amount of spillage. However, continual use of the M13 (decon scrub brush) requires the scrub team to exert more energy than using the mop. In hard-to-reach places, use the M13 to apply DS2.

Before the start of this operation, the scrub team pours 5-gallon cans of DS2 into 30-gallon trash cans if mops are going to be used instead of the M13. Each member of the scrub team will wear wet weather gear to protect themselves from the DS2.

NOTE: Water adversely affects DS2's ability to react with chemical agents. When water in DS2 reaches 20 percent by weight, the reaction between DS2 and the chemical agent stops.

If there is excess water remaining on the vehicle from station 1, there are several options:

. Wait for most of the water to evaporate. l Remove the excess water. l Increase the amount of DS2 applied. There must be sufficient DS2 on the item being decontaminated for complete neutralization to occur. The DS2-to-agent ratio needs to be 55 to 1 for H agents and 25 to 1 for G agents. DS2 should be applied with scrubbing. Scrubbing increases the mixing of the agent with DS2, especially when thickened chemicial agents are present.