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File: 120596_aacnq_25.txt
DECONTAMINATION
1. Chemical decontamination can be an extremely manpower and re-
source intensive process. Chemical agents penetrate porous
(canvas tents, rubber articles, wood, etc) and most painted sur-
faces. These agents can only be immediately neutralized when
they come into direct contact (for varying degrees of time) with
specific decontaminates and that toxic fumes are the result of
this contact. Most decontamination operations simply transfer
the contamination from one location (aircraft for instance) to
another (ground).
2. Because of the large area coverage associated with chemical
munitions complete decontamination is not feasible and will not
be arbitrarily directed. We will be unable to drive Alarm Yellow
as a result of our decontamination efforts. Additionally, the
mechanism for accomplishing full decontamination is many times
counterproductive to the survive to operate concept. For in-
stance, the lining up of vehicles to go a vehicle
decontamination station serves no tactical purpose (dirty vehi-
cles get cleaned and return to a dirty area), expends resources
(personnel with vehicles and decontamination versus 3 minutes for
expedient decon operation), and unnecessarily exposes critical
asset (lined up) to potential follow-on air attacks. Conse-
quently, our primary method of complete decontamination will be
weathering. Personnel will use spot decontaminated assets to
accomplish the mission.
3. Our decontamination efforts will be directed mainly towards
the owner/user decontaminating areas of equipment that will be
continuously touched. For example, on aircraft this would mean
decontaminating only the egress area, fuel and munitions service
points, and access panel areas areas required for maintenance/compo-
nent removal. The same concept would be applied to ground equip-
ment, i.e., only those parts that are contacted by personnel
will be decontaminated. To facilitate expedient decontamina-
tion, rags, mud, soapy water (preferably hot), water or organic
solvents may be used. (Gasoline may be used, however, due to its
highly volatile nature, special consideration must be taken when
determining to use it as a decontaminate) .
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