Combating contamination

After donning their CBRN suits, the soldiers were assigned to various stations in the area of the barracks to execute tasks that are very similar to those awaiting them in Krusevac, Serbia. During the training session, they used the procedures of CBRN reconnaissance and decontamination, and carried out tasks with CBRN detectors in service with the unit.

“The personnel who are training here for the exercise have arrived from three fields. We have here the “steel cubes” (NCOs) who have been studying at us since February. There is a SIBCRA team of the unit here, whose members are about to take their professional exams, and also present are the nominated personnel of our Székesfehérvár premises” – this was how Sergeant First Class Zsolt Ferenc Németh, platoon NCO, 2nd CBRN Defence Company, HDF 102nd CBRN Regiment described the composition of the personnel preparing for the exercise.

The sergeant first class added that during the training, special emphasis is laid on brushing up on and practicing the proper CBRN decontamination procedures, as here they work only with CWA simulants; however, they are going to work with real CWA in Serbia.

“The personnel will be assigned many-sided tasks in Serbia, as the Serbian colleagues are going to set up several stations. Our soldiers will have the opportunity to reconnoiter CWA-contaminated jet aircraft, tank, train and bus. They will be able to test the instruments in real-world circumstances and their CBRN suits will be assigned a key role” – this was how Zsolt Ferenc Németh summed up the essentials of the Serbian exercise.

The lessons to be learned in the CWA-contaminated environment by the specialists of the regiment and the “steel cube” students specialized in CBRN defence are such that they will be able to make good use of them later, while reconnoitering or decontaminating areas more quickly and precisely.