Airmen from Altus Air Force Base’s 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, Readiness and Emergency Management Flight recently supported the U.S. Army’s 3-2 Air Defense Artillery Battalion at Fort Sill in a joint chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training exercise designed to sharpen rapid decontamination and redeployment skills.
The Altus team established decontamination sites for two Patriot batteries and their reconnaissance, selection and occupation of position elements, integrating Air Force procedures with Army operations under joint doctrine. “Our task was to provide decontamination sites for two Patriot batteries and their accompanying reconnaissance, selection and occupation of position elements,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Alexander Trippett, Emergency Management Logistics and Training noncommissioned officer in charge. “The Army and Air Force approach decontamination differently, but thankfully, the Department of War’s CBRN tactics, techniques and procedures are captured in joint-service publications. We were able to quickly train ourselves up and conduct internal rehearsals prior to joining their exercise.”
The scenario put soldiers through a simulated exposure to an unknown CBRN agent, forcing a rapid breakdown of their position and movement of personnel and equipment through a decontamination line before setting up a new site. Upon arrival at the decontamination area, Altus Airmen briefed Army personnel on the process and guided them through vehicle, equipment and individual gear decontamination.
Beyond supporting operations at Fort Sill, the event doubled as a proving ground for the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron’s ability to lead decontamination for a large formation while providing hands-on training for newer members of the unit. The work tested the Airmen’s ability to plan, mobilize and execute on short timelines—skills the unit expects to rely on in future operations.
“In a future conflict, Air Force CBRN specialists may find themselves operating in small teams — mobile detachments tasked with a wide array of responsibilities and minimal oversight,” Trippett said.
The unit emphasized speed and adaptability throughout the exercise, from establishing decontamination lanes to moving forces efficiently through each phase of the process. “For this exercise, I’m most proud of the speed at which the team was able to plan and mobilize, enter the simulated area of operations, execute its tasks, and redeploy to receive a new mission,” Trippett said. “Training like this improves our agility and efficiency, allowing us to accomplish even more in the future.”
CBRN preparedness remains a core requirement across the services, intended to ensure survivability and mission continuity in environments where hazardous agents may be present. The joint work at Fort Sill underscored the advantages of shared tactics and interoperable procedures, which allow Air Force and Army units to integrate quickly under stress.
Looking ahead, leaders involved in the exercise said they want to streamline how partner units request and receive CBRN support, reducing the overhead that can slow response times during real-world contingencies. “I want us to get to the point where a mission partner can pick up the phone, ask for a CBRN specialist team and get the full package — without excessive planning, funding or service-support requirements.”
