File: 970903_oct1_0010.txt
Page: 0010
Total Pages: 106

iiii ii; o@q@@ NBC Defcnse
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(U) 1. (N-IltODU(:IION

(U) A. Background

(U) 'I'hc war with Iraq was significant as [he first time since world War ( that
ihe Marine Corps was tested in combat against an imminent threat of chemical warfare.

(U) Over the past fifteen years, significant events in the Marine Corps have se[
the stagc for NBC defense operations in Southwest Asia (SWA). The Mariie Corps
established the 5702, NBC Officer, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) in the late
1970's. NBC Platoons and NBC Sections were formed at Division, Wing and Force
Service Support Group (FSSG) levels during the n-Lid-1980's. The formation of the
Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) and the Marine Corps
Rcscarch Development and Acquisition Command (MCPDAC), in 1987, established new
key players in Marine Corps NBC defense leadership. Under the Conunandanes
guidance, NBC Defense received a high priority in the Marine Corps Marine Air Ground
I'zisk I-orce (MAGTF) Master Plan. High priority in (he MAGTF Master Plan served as a
c@itilyst in bringing greater acre.-ition to deficiencies in NBC defense and in shifting
emphasis in NBC defense to low-n-dd intensity conflict and expeditionary operations.
(U) Howeve-I high emphasis from the top on NBC defense was not enough, in
two years time, to insure all was weU with NBC defense prior to the war with Iraq.
There was a general improvement in the way NBC was being perceived by commanders.
However, there were stiu many concerns such as lack of a Table of Equipment (T/E) for
established NBC platoons, slippage on procurement of new field protective masks,
packaging problems with newly procured overgarment (OG-84), insufficient fielded
automatic and stand-off detection capabflity, and insufficient Pre-War Reserve (PWP,)
for high usage NBC equipment items. Therefore, when Marine Corps Units were
mobilized for operation Desert Shield, there was a great deal of uncertainty and
apprehension by commanders about their state of NBC defense readiness and what they
would be up against once in Saudi.Arabia.

(U) B. Purpose. The purpose of the NBC Assessment in Southwest Asia was:

(U) o To identify NBC defense organization and structure issues.

(U) o To identify NBC defense training related issues.

(U) o To gain a perspective on the overall NBC Defense readiness and capability
of Marine Corps forces in SWA.

(U) o To obtain feedback on new NBC defense procedures and techniques.