Fort Knox, Ky.— Tear gas released in the gas chamber of CBRN triggered various reactions in 2nd Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets today.
Cadets spent the morning at the CBRN range completing the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training.
The nervous Cadets started the training with a demonstration and then were split into platoons to go through instruction on safety equipment and procedures.
Two Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, help eachother with their Joint Service General Purpose Masks (JSGPM) before entering the Confidence Chamber during Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) training on June 1 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. | Reagan Zimmerman, CST Public Affairs Office
Lt. Col. Laura Skinner is the Commissioned Officer in Charge of the CBRN training range.
“From the 1st regiment through the 11th regiment we will be here running the CBRN range so that everybody can understand what skills and equipment they would need and how to use them in a CBRN environment,” Skinner said.
“It was nice learning how to do everything and just learning about the chemical branch.” Cadet Johanna Keosseian, from Belmar, New Jersey, attending the University of Mississippi said.
Then it was time to hit the gas chamber.
Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, cringe and cough after taking off their Joint Service General Purpose Masks (JSGPM) while singing “Baby Shark” inside the Confidence Chamber during Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) training on June 1 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. | Reagan Zimmerman, CST Public Affairs Office
Upon entering the chamber the Cadets were masked. They tested the seal of their mask and ensuring they could not smell the gas. This gave the Cadets confidence in their training and more importantly the equipment they were issued.
After ensuring their mask was on properly, Cadets were led through a series of questions, testing their retention of the training and equipment brief they received before entering the chamber.
Then it was time to remove the mask.
“The moment I ripped my mask off I started coughing and I actually ended up throwing up in the chamber,” Keossian said.
Most Cadets experience a burning sensation as they began to sing the words “Baby Shark, do, do, do, baby shark…”
“My skin started to burn a little bit and it started to get really hot and I just thought ‘I can’t wait to get out of here,’” Keossian said.
“It burned my eyes and my nose pretty bad, but I didn’t cough too much until I breathed in and it made it worse.” Cadet Joshua Best, from Little Rock Arkansas, who attends the University of Central Arkansas said.
One Cadet, Grant Navakuku, from Tempe Arizona, a student at Arizona State University, walked into the gas chamber nervous, but walked out relieved.
Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, flap their arms in order to recover from the CS gas (tear gas) after going through the Confidence Chamber during Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) training on June 1 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. | Reagan Zimmerman, CST Public Affairs Office
“Actually, I think that I am not someone who gets the normal reaction,” Navakuku said. “I am pretty complacent right now, I did not freak out or get the reaction that I think you are supposed to get.”
