FORT KNOX, Ky.,–Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp completed their Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear training on Fort Knox, Ky., July 29, 2023. CBRN is seen as major obstacle for Cadets to complete their training, and Cadet Keaton Silver, Ole Miss, shares his knowledge from prior experiences with the confidence chamber. “The first time I ever went through the chamber, I thought to myself, ‘Oh wow this is easy, I’m never going to have a problem with CBRN’. I’d been in one of the earliest groups so I barely felt it,” Silver said. “The next FTX we went on I was […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Armed with only their wits and a gas mask, Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, faced the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear chamber at Fort Knox, Ky. July 24, 2023. Many Cadets go into the chamber to challenge themselves in a different environment by preparing them for possible encounters with toxic substances in the future. “CBRN is the process and the description of being able to defend yourself from chemical warfare or any attack,” said Cadet Taylor Randazzo, Texas State. “We’re learning how to don a pro mask and how to protect ourselves against that chemical warfare […]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, engage in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training in Fort Knox, Ky., June 24, 2023. The CBRN chamber is a concrete, enclosed building that creates a simulation for the Cadets to experience using their gas masks against tear gas. The production of the gas is made by burning two chemical filled capsules inside the chamber. Prior to entering the gas filled room, Cadets take in-depth classes learning about the equipment and how to properly apply it. The Cadre also ensure a proper seal of their masks beforehand. Cadre member 2nd Lt. […]

FORT KNOX,Ky.- 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear phase of their Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023.  “Today we got to experience CBRN and learn all about the branch, but also what they do and how they help the forces throughout the Army,” said Cadet Brandon Fox, Texas Christian University. “And then we also got to learn to trust our equipment by trying out the gas chamber, which was really fun.”  Cadets were taught about how to react to various forms of attacks, the gear needed to protect them, and went […]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – U.S. Army 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets participated in the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear chamber at Fort Knox, Ky., June 14, 2023. The Cadets go through gas chamber training to learn how to properly put on their gas masks and to do so in the correct timeframe. The training helps to prepare them for a possible enemy attack in combat. Cadet Serena Williams, Minnesota State University, Mankato, has been through a CBRN chamber before. Williams went though basic training in 2021 and is a part of the Minnesota State National Guard. “I was excited. I’ve done […]

The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Chamber is one of the most highly anticipated and daunting events of Cadet Summer Training (CST).   Fortunately, the Cadets of 9th Regiment understand that this intimidating training event hardly measures up to obstacles they have already overcome.   “I think, I’ve been through struggles, I’ve been through pain before. What’s different this time? Why am I going to falter and not stand up to the challenge this time when I’ve done it so many times before,” said Cadet Jack Frus, from Arizona State University, regarding his thought process before entering the CBRN chamber.  Frus went on to […]

“I’m kind of nervous because I generally have a weak stomach, but I’m also excited because it’s something that all soldiers do, and I haven’t done it yet, so I want to get it done,” DeCristofaro said. 6th Regiment Cadets participated in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) training as part of Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. Cadet Marissa DeCristofaro from Sacramento State had never experienced the confidence chamber before.  “I don’t want to throw up. I think that’s what I’m most worried about is throwing up,” DeCristofaro said. On the other hand, Cadet Chandler Ard from the University […]

With modern warfare rapidly evolving, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) training has become increasingly important to Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Ky.  “Your guys’ war is gonna be much different than my war. You need to pay attention to this training,” said Master Sgt. Matthew Hyde, the CBRN noncommissioned officer in charge, during his morning brief to 7th Regiment Advanced Camp.  The CBRN Confidence Chamber serves to create a level of trust in the equipment and the Cadets’ ability to properly use the equipment. This is done through thorough training.  “We did a lot of practice rehearsals, so […]

At Fort Knox, Ky., future U.S Army officers are required to go through a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) exercise during their time at Cadet Summer Training (CST). “CBRN training consists of eight tasks,” said Lt. Col. Janice Vogan, the officer in charge of warrior skills. A few of the skills learned from performing the required tasks include maintaining their protective mask, protecting themselves from CBRN related injuries, and how to react to various CBRN attacks. “The ninth (task) is they’re going to go into the gas chamber, the NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) chamber,” said Vogan. Once in the chamber, […]

Cadets from 9th Regiment Advanced Camp attended chemistry class on July 21, 2021, except this time, the classroom was outdoors in the hot Kentucky summer, the professors were Cadre from across the U.S. Army, and the topic was CBRN: chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training.  Starting off their morning, Cadets learned how to effectively react to these hazardous substances by donning their Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear in allotted timeframes. Most importantly, these future Army officers had to efficiently put their gas masks on in nine seconds or less.  “There is a possibility we could encounter it [CBRN] in the future,” said Gabe […]

“When I first came to the United States, the first people that helped me through were veterans,” Tway said. “My English teacher, my mentor and my coaches were all veterans and I still keep in touch with every single one of them and they’re the reason why I joined [the Army].”

On an unpredictable battlefield, only nine seconds, and a good set of gear, can be the difference between mild irritation and suffocation. This was taught to Cadets of 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp through an uncomfortably hands-on method on July 7, 2021, during their Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear training, or CBRN, at Fort Knox, KY. After being given extensive lessons on their JSLIST (Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology) suits, a set of protective clothing to wear over their uniforms, as well as the M50 Protective Masks, Cadets formed lines and charged into a small, unventilated concrete building in the woods. […]

On April 22, 1915, German troops wrote a gruesome new chapter in the book of modern warfare with the deployment of poison gas on the unsuspecting Allied troops defending Ypres, Belgium. Since then, the use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons became widespread among nations and have been used as recent as the 1990s when Iraqi forces deployed Nerve Agents and CS Gas against its own population to control a popular uprising. To prevent a repeat of the Ypres attack, the U.S. Military developed the Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) and trained its troops in the effective reaction against the […]

"Oh my God, I’m so thankful for the rain."

“Gas! Gas! Gas!” yelled Cadre. Much like a boxer taking a surprise upper-cut, Cadets scrambled to react. They only had nine seconds to let technique take over. “It punches you in the face as soon as you take that mask off,” said Cadet Jakob Jasperson of Pittsburg State University, Kansas. “My face burns, almost instantly you start crying, and your nose, it just runs so fast … you start coughing, and you can’t control your breathing.” Cadets of 3rd Regiment Advanced Camp were trained to be ready for the worst on the morning of June 17th, 2021. CBRN (commonly pronounced “see-burn”) […]

“It burns,” said Ampofo. “It feels like cooking peppers and onions and a whole bunch of spices and stuff, like spicy siracha basically.”

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU3u7BAnXOs[/embedyt]   FORT KNOX, Ky. — The Confidence Chamber comes down to those seconds the Cadets have to stand and breathe in the CS gas, which is similar to tear gas, and whether or not they can stand the discomfort. CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) training hosts many parts, but the capstone of the training is for Cadets to walk in and brave the Confidence Chamber. It serves as a mental barrier, and after braving it, 9th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets walked away more than ready to tackle the rest of camp. Cadet Emily Campos, a Lagrangeville, New York, native, […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — 11th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets persevered through the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Confidence Chamber July 16 during Cadet Summer Training. “We had our classes where we learned how to trust our gear and how to utilize it properly. Then, the proper steps if we were ever in the environments and need to use it,” explained Cadet Brandon Milburn, Norwich University. “After that, we did the practical application of it where we went inside the gas chamber and were exposed to the chemical substance.” During the introductory classes, Cadets were shown a demonstration of what the Chemical […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyzKi2qYFsQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — The sounds of coughs and cries filled the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) range while Second Regiment, Basic Camp, Cadets completed CBRN training on July 10 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. CBRN included eight different trainings on Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) levels, the Chemical Corps and the confidence chamber, which were meant to instill trust in their equipment. Cadets left with a new found confidence in not only their equipment, but their battle buddies as well. “In the [confidence] chamber specifically, when you are about to be let out, usually you can’t see, you’re […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zm6AuymGzw[/embedyt] FORT KNOX Ky. — On July 8, Cadets of the 7th Advanced Camp Regiment completed Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) training, where they learned to trust their equipment in a chemical environment. It was an introduction to the dangers of chemical attacks, the detection of chemical environments, and the use of protective gear. “There’s a lot to the chemical corps and it’s really hard to cover in just a couple of hours, but it is a nice little intro to what we do on a daily basis,” Spc. Joseph Workman, subject matter expert at the CBRN training, said. […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pipOwYUsXoc[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, KY.— “We do not know what our enemies are going to do,” said Cadet Alisha Anderson, a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho. “They can go at us full force with weapons or they can [use] chemical or radioactive weapons. As Soldiers, we need to prepare [for] everything so we can be able to react quickly and efficiently so we can help people around us.” Should our enemies use those weapons, the Cadets from the 1st Regiment Basic Camp are better prepared to defend themselves with chemical suits and masks after their initial CBRN training today. Cadets learn […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keE3KMENXeI[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – 8th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets were briefed on hazardous Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons before entering what is called the confidence chamber, 1 July.  Inside the chamber, Cadets are exposed to the simulated effects of CBRN weapons with a concentrated tear gas that irritates skin, eyes and the respiratory system. Cadets enter the chamber with masks dawned and sealed. After a series of tests to check that their equipment is properly functioning, Cadets are instructed to break the seal on their masks and expose themselves to the gas. The objective of this training […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo3WhA9dREc[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, KY. – “This training is important because, you need to be prepared with whatever the Army throws at you. You need to adapt and overcome,” said Cadet Savannah Mercado, from the University of Southern California. Today, Cadets from the 3rd Regiment Advanced Camp learned how to do this when they endured the Chemical, Biological Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) chamber. The chemical used at CBRN is tear gas; when unprotected, it specifically irritates the skin, respiratory system and eyes. There were several different stations Cadets visited to learn how to properly don their mask and suit. “The instructors here […]