What can a new Lieutenant expect to do on a day to day basis as a 74A (CBRN) if assigned to a combat arms unit?

I was one of the very first 74A to be assigned to combat units under the H Series MTOE in 1980. Much of what you will do is what I and my peers created - good or bad. When we gathered together over a beer or 12 at the Advance Course in '84 we found one thing that was the biggest driver of success. If you go in as the ChemO, you will probably fail. If you go in there as the Asst S-3/ChemO, you will probably succeed. Let that sink in, write it on a post it note, thumb tack it to your forehead. The Bn needs a stable head in the S-3 shop, and the other LT's will come and go. YOU are the stability. USE it. First, become an indispensable Operations Officer. Then you will be able to insert survivability into all facets of the Bn. NBC is not an objective. It is a condition. Commander, can you defend a battle position? Now, can you defend it in the dark? Now, can you defend it when your comms get jammed? Now can you defend it under active Chem? Now, are you at the graduate level that you can do all of the above. The ChemO can't ask that, but the Asst S-3/ChemO can.

Having had the opportunity to serve as a Battalion Chemical Officer as a young 2LT in a Light Infantry Battalion on my first assignment it was an eye opening experience. Chemical Officers are in a unique position because you are expected to do a lot of other jobs that have nothing to do with being a CBRN Officer. Besides USR which only occurs once a month you will spend most of your time doing other assignments in support of the battalion. That’s not a bad thing. You will probably be known as the Jack of all trades and hopefully master of many. You will be expected to learn your organization’s mission and how it fights. In the beginning it will be a big challenge but will pay off in the end. As a CBRN Officer I have served in many none CBRN units and had the opportunity to not only Command a CBRN Company but also an Artillery Battery as well as Command at the Battalion and Brigade level. It all started with that challenging experience as the Battalion CHEMO. If you have any additional questions please feel free to email me at [login to see] . Good Luck and enjoy the experience.

LT, you probably already have you answer. I was a Chemical Surety NCO at Kirk US Army Health Clinic among my other duties. I was in charge of 3 ChemDecon teams at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; from 1992 to 1996. During that time we had to decon Tech-Escort unit at least three times for possible exposure to Phosgene and Chlorine gases discharged from bunker openings. We had to monitor radio traffic from Edgewood Area APG, for wind direction and emission projections. We would send our teams over in separate vehicles and time intervals. We had the real gear and auto-injectors. You’ll have all your own gear and carry extra for the battalion, alarms, etc.

SSG retired