Were you exposed to burn pits during your deployment? If so, how do you think they impacted your health?

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 21:40:17 -0400

Besides the obvious of documenting everything related to it, what advice can you give to others who may be in a similar situation?

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2017 9:49 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 21:49:05 -0400

I was exposed to one in Afghanistan and the fumes would pass over the flight line and as of now I don't feel it has affected me.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 2 at 2017 9:51 PM

SSG Pete Fleming — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 21:51:17 -0400

hmmm... smoke from a fire caused by burning feces and JP-8... nah... and yes I was exposed, that is a smell that stays with you!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp6PBpzSlMM&list=PLPgeN1Je6BZZEeEhIThYDKt0xUdgLVRcn&index=5

AFN Commercial 5 "Extra Duty"

AFN Commercial Submission

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2017 10:14 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 22:14:03 -0400

In Saudi, during Desert Storm, we burned anything and everything. As a young joe I ended up burning shit every couple of days...nothing like the smell of a honey pot cooking. In Iraq, 05-06 and then again in 08-09, I was in close proximity to burn pits in Baghdad and Mosul. As of now there is no Gulf War Syndrome or what I consider any associated issues from burning. Now, that is not to say some people are not suffering or experiencing problems, but I really don't think it is as widespread as some people would believe.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2017 10:45 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 22:45:00 -0400

I was exposed to the Oil Well Fires as Day was night many times and all you did was breath in Burning oil. We even went and helped the civilian Oil Fire guys putting the fires out. I think I have all kinds of problems.
Photo is one of the oil fires.

Invasion 2003 that is all we had, we didn't have the big FOB's we were pepping sites for them to be built. We moved all the time as we maneuvered with I MEF moving into Iraq and every where we moved we dug Burn pits and they were burning everything even the Batteries.

2005-2006 on a Special HA/CA det to Pakistan we had our own burn pit, same thing burnt every thing even fuel.
2010-2011 was in Baghdad Camp Victory base VBC and they had a big burn pit and incinerator, our camp was about 1/2 mile down the road from that site.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jun 2 at 2017 11:38 PM

TSgt David L. — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 23:38:13 -0400

Yes, and yes. Burned, and cleaned burn pits for ordnance disposal as well as excess gear that had to be destroyed before folks left the AOR. No way to know what caused what, but I have lung/breathing issues now.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jun 3 at 2017 12:07 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 00:07:05 -0400

Since I got back in 2004 I have had a constant cough. Civilian docs can't find the cause. I filed a claim with the VA, they came back and said, "Not Service Related". So I still deal with it daily.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 3 at 2017 1:07 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 01:07:10 -0400

I was, many times... and it can't be good... Kinda like Gulf War illness and agent orange... SN Vivien Roman-Hampton

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Jun 3 at 2017 3:51 PM

PVT Mark Brown — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 15:51:01 -0400

It was like just a thing that had to be done and everyone, E1 thru E3 and sometime E4, got lucky. Not the burning so much, it was moving the barrel and then burying the remainder contents. I guess it was just more gross than even consideration of contamination. It seems like back in the 1960's Army contamination was not such a big deal. Long term affects? None that I know of. I did contract Hep C somewhere along the line.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jun 3 at 2017 7:27 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 19:27:15 -0400

If you were exposed, make sure you register in the VA's Burn Pit Registry. They will give you an examination and is a way to document any issues. It will also help out down the road when we get worse. I think the long term effects of OIF and OEF are not felt yet but will years from now when people like me who were never shot or blown up have respiratory issues.

Response by SSG William Jones made Aug 25 at 2018 3:09 PM

SSG William Jones — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 15:09:01 -0400