PRE-DEPLOYMENT: When preparing the unit’s mobilization plan and TSOP, include the supplies and equipment required for the unit to operate in an NBC environment. Do not wait until ordered to mobilize to begin preparation for the mission. A well-prepared and trained unit stands a much better chance of surviving and accomplishing their mission!
ACTIONS BEFORE A BIOLOGICAL ATTACK:
- Assemble and brief the NBC monitoring and decontamination teams
- Treat all cuts, wounds, or other areas of the body susceptible to infection or infectious diseases
- Cover all food and water
- Increase vector control programs
- Assign members to shut off ECU and button down section
- Ensure up-to-date immunizations
- Maintain good hygiene and area sanitation following field/sanitation guidelines
- Engage in physical conditioning and maintain proper weight
- Train on individual and collective NBC defense tasks
- Ensure that patients have masks readily available and cover
- Obtain materials for covering supplies and equipment (such as plastic sheeting, tape, tarpaulins)
- Obtain materials for preparing improvised protection in shelters (such as plastic sheeting, tarpaulins, tape, sandbags)
- Have biological agent treatment readily available (based on suspect threat agent in AO)
- Be prepared to isolate bio agent patients
Operations in Special Environments:
- Cold Weather: It may be harder to aerosolize live bio agents, but the bio cloud may be prolonged.
Cover attack is most likely. Watch for sabotage! Troops are more vulnerable to diseases that spread in warm, crowded conditions. Nutrition, water, rest, and cleanliness are harder to maintain. In the desert, aerosolized bio agents are ineffective due to low humidity and the UV radiation of the sun, with the exception being spore-forming agents. Night conditions favor aero bio attack. Toxins such as ricin are resistant and can be employed just like chemical agents.
Jungle: Excellent conditions for bio agents and toxins (warm temperature, high humidity, low sunlight). Downwind hazards are less due to low wind speed and jungle growth. Follow strict field and sanitation, vector and rodent control. Urban: Buildings provide cover but may increase the persistency of bio agents and toxins, which are very effective. Covert operations are likely, so sanitary and personal hygiene measures must be enforced, and immunizations are necessary.
Never assume that hydrant water is safe! Biological attack indicators should not be taken lightly. If threat forces attack with bio agents, there may be little or no warning. Soldiers need to automatically mask when attack indicators are high. Some of these indicators are the same as those found after a chemical attack, but with one critical difference: after taking immediate action to protect themselves, soldiers will be unable to detect and identify chemical agent vapors or liquids.
Mysterious illness affecting a large number of soldiers, a large number of unusual insects not normally found in the area, a large number of sick or dead domestic and wild animals, artillery shells with less powerful explosions than HE rounds, aerial bombs that pop rather than explode, mist or fog sprayed by a slow-moving aircraft or helicopter, and a mysterious illness affecting both the soldier and civilian population which approaches epidemic numbers. Casualty distribution is aligned with wind direction, and there is a high number of respiratory involvement, even though that disease in nature is usually non-respiratory. The illness type is unusual for the geographic area, and there is a low attack rate among those working indoors. There are no indications of chemical warfare.
An attack has occurred, but there are no immediate effects. A presumed chemical attack has occurred, but the agent has not been identified. There is an unusual odor and a witness to the attack. Remember: a biological attack is considered suspected until confirmed by laboratory analysis.
