Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search

File: aabpt_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 1

SUBJECT:  MUNITIONS AND AIR BASE OPERABILITY DIVISION CHEMICAL
DEFENSE EQUIPAGE POLICY            




            MEMORANDUM FOR AF/LEYS/LRC
                                                                                                                               19 SEP 1990
            SUBJECT: Chemical Defense Equipage Policy
            
           1. (U) This is in response to your request for input on Lt Gen
           Viccellio's comments regarding guidance for chemical defense gear
           following his visit to the AOR. We believe CENTAF's current
           policy of 3 ensembles per person is adequate for the present.
           Until current studies to better define chemical and heat stress
           risks and how we can best use our protective gear are complete,
           we recommend no changes in current policy/guidance.
           
           2. AFR 355-1 establishes guidance calling for all personnel
           in or deploying to threat areas to be equipped with 4 chemical
           ensembles. However, in recognition of funding limitations and
           theater/unit commanders' prerogatives with regard to equipage
           levels, WMP-1 calls for an incremental increase in equipage
           level from 2 ensembles per person by FY88 to 4 ensembles per
           person by FY92. As an interim standard, current SORTS reporting
           guidance authorizes units to report their on hand versus author-
           ized chemical bag status based on 3 vice 4 ensembles per bag.
           
           3. The factor of 4 ensembles per person was the AF's best
           guess on a reasonable number of suits needed for 30 days of war,
           the previous Defense Guidance goal. This number is substantiated
           by an Army-contracted study, which predicted an ensemble use rate
           of between 3 and 4 per month. However, there is no compelling
           evidence that 4 ensembles per person is an absolute must for
           Desert Shield. Heat stress is likely to be a far bigger problem
           than the having too few suits. AFSC has begun an accelerated
           30 day study to better define and compare chemical and heat risks
           associated with mission accomplishment in the AOR.
           
           4. As far as we know, CENTAF made their decision to go with
           3 ensembles per person based on the guidance described above and
           their actual equipage levels. We have not attempted to override
           CENTAF's policy. Although some commands deployed personnel with
           4 ensembles per person, there are no indications this has caused
           any major problems. Also, we do not see any inconsistency with
           the LRC asking commands to report quantities of equipment against
           the AFR 355-1 standards, since the LRC asked the MAJCOMs to
           indicate whether they were reporting 3-ensemble or 4-ensemble
           bags.
           
           5. [(b)(2)]
           
                 [(b)(6)]
                 
           JOSEPH. SHACKELFORD, Colonel, USAF
           Deputy Chief, Munitions and Air Base
           Operability Division
           Directorate of Operations, DCS/P&O
    .
    
    


Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search