By Mr. Clarence White, Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command
FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas – Military Police joined Chemical Soldiers here to conduct operational testing of a new decontamination system for vehicles and other ground-based platforms.
Using their currently fielded decontamination applicators, the 411th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade joined the 3rd platoon, 181st Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) company, 2nd Chemical Battalion, 48th Chemical Brigade, used the Joint General Purpose Decontaminate for Hardened Military Equipment (JGPD-HME) under simulated conditions in which they would fight.
JGPD-HME consists of three packets containing different powders that are mixed with water to create a solution designed for use against chemical and biological agents.
First use of JGPD-HME by Soldiers from 3rd platoon, 181st CBRN Company occurred at West Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) on a hot afternoon.
With a play on words, CBRN Spec. Ameer Davie said, “Using JGPD was a sweaty experience. JGPD was as easy as one, two, B.”
Working with U.S. Army Operational Test Command, the Soldiers were part of data collection efforts provided to the Army Evaluation Center to inform senior Army leaders on how effective and suitable JGPD-HME will be during training and in real-world operations.
“JGPD-HME provides Warfighters a decontaminant that is compatible with fielded and future applicators and should significantly reduce the logistics footprint,” said Sgt. 1st Class Crystal Wright, JGPD-HME Test NCOIC with OTC’s Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate.
JGPD-HME provides decontamination for tactical vehicles, shipboard surfaces, crew-served weapons, and individual weapons that have been exposed to chemical or biological contamination.
JGPD-HME is a possible decontaminant Soldiers can use in a wider range of environments.
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About the U.S. Army Operational Test Command:
As the Army’s only independent operational tester, OTC tests Army, joint, and multi-service warfighting systems in realistic operational environments, using representative Soldiers to determine whether a system is effective, suitable, and survivable. Public law requires OTC to test major systems before they are fielded to its ultimate customer, the American Soldier.
The Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate at Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas, conducts operational tests of combat engineer, chemical, transportation, military police, quartermaster, ordnance and medical service systems in order to provide our senior leaders with the necessary information to field the highest quality equipment for the warfighter.
