USE OF CWU-77/P CHEMICAL DEFENSE COVERALLS

File: aaame_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 2
SUBJECT:  USE OF CWU-77/P CHEMICAL DEFENSE COVERALLS

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UNCLAS

SUBJECT: USE OF CWU-77/P CHEMICAL DEFENSE COVERALLS

1. SOME UNITS HAVE RECEIVED CWU-77/P CHEMICAL DEFENSE COVERALLS

THROUGH THEIR SUPPLY SYSTEM.  THESE ARE NOT REPLACEMENTS FOR THE

PRESENT CHEMICAL GROUNDCREW ENSEMBLE (GCE).  SET THESE COVERALLS

ASIDE AND DO NOT ISSUE THEM TO PERSONNEL UNLESS STANDARD GCE'S

ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

2.  THE CWU-77/P MAY BE A VALUABLE ADDITION TO OUR CHEMICAL

WARFARE DEFENSE INVENTORY IN THE FUTURE.  WE ARE NOT READY TO

FIELD IT AT THE PRESENT TIME FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.

A.  THE COVERALL HAS NOT UNDERGONE COMPLETE TESTING AND

OPERATIONAL CONTAMINATION CONTROL AREA (CCA) PROCESSING

PROCEDURES HAVE NOT BEEN DEVELOPED.  IT IS OUR POSITION NOT TO

FIELD EQUIPMENT THAT HAS NOT COMPLETED THE FULL TESTING CYCLE,

ESPECIALLY WHEN SPECIFIC SUPPORT PROCEDURES HAVE NOT BEEN

DEVELOPED OR TESTED.

B. THE CWU-77/P'S RECOMMENDED USE, SPECIFIED BY HSD/YAG, IS IN

HIGH TEMPERATURE AREAS WHERE THERE IS A REDUCED THREAT OF LIQUID

CONTAMINATION.  OUR AIR BASE CHEMICAL THREAT CONSISTS OF LIQUID

CONTAMINATION AND THE VAPOR HAZARD RESULTING FROM THOSE DROPLETS.

IT IS IMPRACTICAL AT THIS TIME TO ATTEMPT DISTRIBUTING COVERALLS

TO THE BASE POPULATION BY GUESSING WHO WILL BE WORKING OR

TRANSITING OUTSIDE AT THE TIME OF ATTACK.