TAB C (OP DECON PROCEDURES) to APPENDIX 4 (CBRNE OPERATIONS) to ANNEX J
(CBRNE) to 130th MEB (TACSOP)
OPERATIONAL DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES
DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES
PRINCIPLES OF DECONTAMINATION
1
DECON as soon as possible: Consider this principle before you consider any other.
The sooner the contamination is removed, the sooner you can reduce MOPP levels and
begin restoring combat power.
2
DECON only what is necessary.
Consider the following factors when deciding what to DECON:
Mission
Length of time you have in MOPP 4
Time available
DECON assets available
Degree of contamination
3
Decontaminate as far forward as possible: Do not take personnel and equipment to the
rear if you can bring DECON assets safely forward. This will keep your equipment on
location, allow DECON to begin earlier, and limit the spread of contamination
Decontaminate by priority: Clean important things first, less important things last. The
battery commander will decide which vehicles are most important to the mission.
4
Decontaminate by priority of METT-TC.
TYPES OF DECONTAMINATION
IMMEDIATE DECON
(Basic soldier skills) Implement immediately after a soldier has been contaminated:
1
Skin DECON: To remove or neutralize an agent on the skin, use the M291 skin
DECON kit. Instructions for using the kit are printed on the container. Execute as soon
as contaminated. DO NOT WAIT FOR ORDERS.
2
Personnel wipe down: Should begin within 15 minutes of contamination. For chemical
and biological agents use the M291 or M295 kit. For radiological contamination, wipe
the contamination off with a cloth or brush, or simply shake it away.
3
Operator's spray down: Should begin as soon as personal wipe down is completed.
For chemical or radiological contamination, use the M100. For radiological
contamination, brush or scrape the contamination away or flush with water and wipe.
TAB C (OP DECON PROCEDURES) to APPENDIX 4 (CBRNE OPERATIONS) to ANNEX J
(CBRNE) to 130th MEB (TACSOP)
OPERATIONAL DECON
Steps
Unit Required Equipment:
 Two 5-gallon pails of DF-200
 Two immersion heaters
 Two 32-gallon galvanized trash cans
 Six long handle brushes
 Six large sponges
 Two 65 GPM
 Two BLIVITS
 Water source
 20 gallons MOGAS
 30 gallons JP8
 Two M17 Senators
 One marking set
 MOPP gear instructions boards
 Above is based on a CO size element
STEP
1
2
3
4
5
DECON Assessment-ID soldiers and equipment needing
DECON.
Coordination-Request support from BN CBRN. Get Linkup
Point.
Site Selection-By BN CBRN. Off main route w/ easy access,
area, concealment, water source and drainage.
Site Setup-Consider contamination runoff. Ensure hot, soapy
water and unit can conduct MOPP gear exchange & vehicle
wash.
Site Control and Security-Ensure drivers know when to move and
that contaminated unit provides security.
Processing-Ensure NCOIC processes each vehicle w/in 2-3
minutes and each section w/in 30 minutes for MOPP
Exchange.
Cleanup-NCOIC supervises clean up of site.
Marking/Reporting-DECON team marks site and sends CBRN 5
report.
MOPP GEAR EXCHANGE (BUDDY TEAMS)
STEP
DECON gear
6
Put on overgarment
Prepare for DECON
7
Put on overboots and gloves
Remove hood
8
Secure new hood
Remove overgarments/overshoes
9
Secure gear
Remove gloves
OPERATIONAL DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES SITE LAYOUT
When a contaminated unit requests assistance to conduct Decontamination the unit will provide
the following information to their BN TOC:
a. Report number of contaminated personnel including cross attachments.
b. Report number of contaminated vehicles by type (M1, M2, wheeled, etc.).
c. Report confirmed agent type.
d. Ability to set up and execute troop DECON lane.
e. Ability to provide 20-person detail to augment DECON lane operations.
f. Unit DECON equipment available.
g. Have contaminated areas been marked?
h. Report DECON status to higher headquarters every 60 minutes.
TAB C (OP DECON PROCEDURES) to APPENDIX 4 (CBRNE OPERATIONS) to ANNEX J
(CBRNE) to 130th MEB (TACSOP)
The MEB Chemical Section will:
a. Provide DECON site location/layout.
b. Link-up (time/location), recognition signals (day vs. night), and call signs/frequency of DECON
unit.
c. Coordinate for ADA (local security), engineer, and medical augmentation.
d. Battle track status of Chemical Defense Equipment.
e. Establish DECON FM net.
f.
Send an CBRNE5 report to BDE upon completion of DECON operations.
LEVEL
Immediate
TECHNIQUE
Skin DECON
Personal Wipedown
Operator Spraydown
Operational MOPP Gear
Exchange**
BEST START
TIME
Before 1
minutes
Within 15
minutes
Within 6 hours
DED
GAINS
Stop agents from
penetrating*
Unit
Possible
temporary relief
from MOPP.
Limit agent
spread.
Probable Long
Term
Unit or DECON
Plt
Vehicle Washdown***
Thorough
DONE BY
Individual
Individual or
Crew
When mission
allows /
DECON Plt
TAB C (OP DECON PROCEDURES) to APPENDIX 4 (CBRNE OPERATIONS) to ANNEX J
(CBRNE) to 130th MEB (TACSOP)
DTD
MOPP Reduction
Reconstitution
Unit
* The techniques become less effective the longer they are delayed.
** Performance degradation and risk assessment must be considered when exceeding 6 hours.
See FM 311.4 (FM 3-4), BDO risk assessment.
*** Vehicle washdown is most effective if started within 1 hour.
Comparison data for Decontamination levels/techniques.
TAB C (OP DECON PROCEDURES) to APPENDIX 4 (CBRNE OPERATIONS) to ANNEX J
(CBRNE) to 130th MEB (TACSOP)
THOROUGH DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES
1.
References: FM 3-5, July 2000, CBRN Decontamination.
2.
Purpose: To outline the responsibilities and procedures for Decontamination procedures
after CBRNE attack.
3.
General:
 DECON as soon as possible, DECON only what is necessary and DECON by priority.
 The three levels of DECON operations are:
 Immediate DECON
 Personal skin DECON within 1 minute with the M291 SDK.
 Individual equipment within 15 minutes using the M295 IEDK.
 Operators wipe down of equipment within 15 minutes using the M100 Sorbent
pad.
 Operational DECON
 MOPP gear exchange within 6 hours depending upon extent of contamination.
 On extent of contamination when Thorough DECON cannot be done.
 Vehicle washdown performed within 6 hours of being contaminated when
mission does not permit thorough recon.
 Thorough DECON
 Detailed Equipment DECON (DED) and Detailed Troop DECON (DTD).
4.
General Procedures for Operational DECON
 Contaminated unit
 Request support from higher HQ.
 Select DECON site.
 Coordinate linkup point.
 Set up and operate MOPP gear exchange.
 Provide site security
 Provide supplies for MOPP gear exchange
 BN responsibilities
 Determine type of DECON required
 Coordinates all support elements
 Battalion power driven DECON equipment (PDDE) crew
 Sets up and operate vehicle wash down.
 Supervised by the contaminated unit commander.
 Clean and mark the contaminated site prior to departure.
 Provide the equipment for vehicle wash down.
 Send CBRNE 5 to higher HQ
 Chemical Company/ DECON platoon responsibilities:
 Reinforces the battalion PDDE crew by sending one or more squad to assist in
Operational DECON when coordinated by BN TOC.
TAB C (OP DECON PROCEDURES) to APPENDIX 4 (CBRNE OPERATIONS) to ANNEX J
(CBRNE) to 130th MEB (TACSOP)

5.
Responsibilities for Thorough DECON:





6.
Provide water support when coordinated by BN TOC.
Unit leader requests DECON support from higher HQ.
Supporting chemical unit is given warning order to conduct a DECON operation.
Supported unit issues an OPORD/FRAGO to the chemical unit.
Supported unit coordinates link up point.
Supported unit sets up site security and overall control.
Unit / DECON PLT Thorough DECON Coordination
 Unit Preparation
 Contaminated unit proceeds to the pre-DECON staging area where they l remove all
vehicle seat cushions, canvas, duffle bags, rucksacks, and anything which may have
absorbed contamination.
 DECON only what is necessary and throw away the rest. Dig sumps at the staging area
for the above listed items, spread dry STB and cover with dirt.
 Mark with CBRNE markings. If STB unavailable, place in double-bagged trash bags
and leave behind.
 Contaminated unit will button up vehicles and equipment and place muzzle covers on
weapons to limit the spread of contamination into uncontaminated areas.
TAB C (OP DECON PROCEDURES) to APPENDIX 4 (CBRNE OPERATIONS) to ANNEX J
(CBRNE) to 130th MEB (TACSOP)



Segregate vehicles by the unit commander's designated priority with the help of the
DECON PL and/or by the extent of contamination.
Unit commander with the Chemical Decontamination PL's help must establish recycle
criteria for vehicles before starting DECON operations IAW FM 3-5.
Personnel
 Contaminated unit will provide a minimum of fifteen (15) personnel to operate the
Detailed Troop DECON (DTD) portion. This number does not include the necessity
of one (1) medic or combat life saver at Station #5 (Monitor), or the CBRNE NCO
and Supply Sergeant at Station #8 (Reissue Point). DECON PLT will provide
technical advice and assistance on the setup, operation, and closure of DTD.
 Contaminated unit commander will ensure that the medic(s), CBRNE NCO, and
Supply Sergeant are sent through DTD first.
 Contaminated personnel may only provide security on the dirty side of the liquid
contamination control line. As soon as personnel are Decontaminated, they need to
provide perimeter security on the clean side of the vapor contamination control line.
DECON PLTs do not have the personnel required to perform security.
7.
Closure
 Contaminated unit will close DTD in sequence beginning with Station 1 after the
DECON platoon has completed the specified steps listed on the next page. Then they
will proceed to the reconstitution assembly area designated by the DECON PL and the
contaminated unit commander.
 Pick up used supplies from station #7 and throw in sump
 Discard all other unusable supplies in station #1 sump
 Move all usable supplies and equipment to station # 1
 Decontaminate supplies and equipment at station #1 using DECON solution & rinse
water
 Empty and rinse containers in Station # 1 sumps
 Mark entire area using CBRNE marking kit
 Remove over garments using MOPP exchange technique and throw in Station #1
sump
 Move upwind of Station #1, DECON boots and gloves, remove them
8.
Additional Considerations
 Processing Guidelines. 50 min for 1st pair thru DTD (12 soldiers per hour) 90 min for
1st pair of vehicles thru DED (8 vehicles per hour)
 Work / Rest Cycles. The DECON Platoon Sergeant will establish a proper work/rest
cycle based on the number of hours in MOPP.
 Decontamination at night use red chem-lights to mark all liquid dirty side stations, green
for all clean sides. Blue marks both liquid and vapor control lines.