In December 2017, as part of the 3BCT, 101st ABN (AASLT) Brigade Field Training Exercise, my Dismounted Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and (CBRN) Reconnaissance (RECCE) Platoon received a mission to support an infantry battalion task force air assault operation to seize an objective with an underground storage facility for chemical weapons. In planning and executing this training mission, we validated many aspects of our individual and team collective training leading up to this BCT collective training exercise. We also identified many of the challenges and gaps in our training both internal to the CBRN RECCE Platoon and ways the Brigade Engineer Battalion and the BCT could facilitate better training.
For this operation, we were TACON to the Task Force. Our mission was to detect the presence of any toxic industrial chemicals, chemical weapons, identify low oxygen environments, advise the TF commander on environmental and CBRN hazards on the objective, and execute sensitive site exploitation driven by the brigade commander’s Priority Intelligence Requirement. This mission represented the core capability that a dismounted CBRN Recce Platoon provides to all IBCTs.
Training Progression
During FY18, we progressed from individual to team and squad collective training, then executed a BN and BCT FTX at the beginning of FY19 in preparation for the rotation. Throughout the training cycle we adapted our situational training exercises (STX) to become more versatile and responsive in our ability to execute in support of the BCT’s priorities. However, we learned hard lessons about integration with the BCT staff and supported units’ headquarters as we shifted to Battalion and above collective training.
RECCE Platoons in support of IBCTs must be able to accomplish their technical mission with minimal equipment and time and be prepared to secure themselves to and from their objectives both in mounted and dismounted formations. More importantly though, they must integrate with the BEB and BCT staffs to ensure the platoon is always postured as a critical and finite BCT asset, and not held in reserve.
Composition and Core Capabilities
The Dismounted CBRNE RECCE platoon is a specialized, 12 Soldier unit within the IBCT trained to detect, confirm/deny the presence of, and identify CBRNE agents in the BDE’s area of operation. The PLT task-organization includes three teams, each led by a SGT:
- The Initial Entry Team tasked with conducting initial site reconnaissance and identifying what samples are required.
- The Sample Collection Team to collect samples of Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) their precursors, biological agents, radiological material, as well as any other intelligence present.
- A Technical Decontamination Team to clear teams off of the contaminated objective and destroy samples after testing.
A SSG Team leader leads the individual teams. Meanwhile the Platoon Sergeant, a SFC, and the Platoon Leader tactically lead the operation and control the flow of information to the higher headquarters. Each Dismounted CBRN RECCE PLT also has the Dismounted Reconnaissance Sets Kits and Outfits (DR SKO) – a dual quadcon set filled with specialized personal protection, detection, and field confirmatory identification equipment.
Core Competencies
These teams with their equipment provide the IBCT with their most reliable CBRN threat detection and hazard management capability. They also provide the IBCT with their only exploitation capability. Doctrinally, the Dismounted CBRN Recce in an IBCT performs the following functions:
- CBRN RECCE perform CBRN reconnaissance and support maneuver battalions.
- Detect CBRN hazards through reconnaissance, surveys and surveillance.
- Provide early warning of contamination for supported units.
- Presumptively identify known agents and materials.
- Locate, identify, mark, report and provide bypass routes around contaminated areas to prevent casualties and the spread of contamination.
- Coordination of evaluation of CBRN samples.
- Provide limited conventional reconnaissance when not in a CBRN environment.
Our challenge as the RECCE Platoon in 21st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3BCT “Rakkasans” was to develop a training plan that prepared us to provide those capabilities within the fast paced, air-assault centric operating framework the BCT would employ at JRTC.
Training Strategy and Methods
We recognized that we needed to adapt our training to the rapid operational tempo we expected at JRTC. So, we framed our platoon and team level Situational Training Exercises into two distinct mission sets: “high-visibility” and “low-visibility/tactical” missions.
High-Visibility
“High-visibility” missions are executed in a relatively secure area, well behind the forward line of troops or within the brigade consolidation area. A typical mission in this environment could be to exploit a CWA lab or storage facility. We executed this using a Level A/B suit (the two types of PPE offering the greatest splash/vapor protection), and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). These missions are the most time consuming. They also require the most security. But they provide the most detailed information for commanders.
In training for these missions, we focused less on local security, and more on integration with the supported maneuver force. CBRNE RECCE does not have the manpower to provide our own security and complete our technical mission simultaneously. By integrating with the supported maneuver force, RECCE PLTs can focus more on the technical application of our equipment. This allows us to provide the most detailed analysis of the sample/threat possible.
Low-Visibility
In a low-visibility/tactical mission, the PLT traveled as light as possible in terms of equipment. The largest break from doctrine during a low-visibility mission was entering a building or subterranean facility containing an unknown CBRNE threat without a Level A/B suit. Instead, the PLT entered in MOPP 4, relying on the Multirae Pro (the device that detects oxygen levels and toxic industrial chemicals/materials) to detect oxygen levels and assuming risk with the reduced vapor/splash protection.
Low visibility missions required less security from the supported unit, and units typically execute them on foot. They required less equipment and less preparation time. They also allowed the PLT to air assault without the necessity of sling loads for vehicles and extra equipment. The tradeoff was a limited volume and quality of information that the platoon could gathered. Low visibility missions also involved extra risk, as there was a possibility that the facilities entered required the use of a higher form of PPE. Ultimately, we developed low visibility missions to meet the BDE’s need for quick detection. This also aided in presumptive identification of CBRN elements in conjunction with the movement of maneuver forces.
Realistic Training
We also sought to incorporate real world scenarios and threats into our training as often as possible. For example, in July of 2018, RECCE Platoon worked with the Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG) to test new PPE specifically designed for exploiting targets in subterranean facilities. During that training we learned that one of the greatest challenges was not the execution of our technical RECCE mission. Rather, it was the degraded communications in the underground environment. We developed TTPs to relay reports through a combination of line-of-sight radios and runners.
Subterranean environments represent just one of many evolving threat conditions. To remain focused on emerging threats, we sent all leaders to the Technical Escort course at Fort Leonard Wood. This allows us to build Situational Training Exercises that incorporate the most recent threat analysis.
Basic Soldier Skills
Finally, the RECCE PLT incorporates basic tactical proficiency and field-craft into every training exercise. As a small but critical BCT asset, we had to maneuver tactically across the entire BCT area of operations. We were often detached from higher battalion headquarters to support maneuver task forces. Additionally, we couldn’t rely on external units to provide local security. CBRN soldiers and NCOs typically do not receive significant field time or training on maneuver operations. Yet, we were expected to secure ourselves to and from objectives and within the patrol base. Therefore, we deliberately incorporated convoy operations, patrol base operations, and tactical battle drills into every CBRN STX.
We drilled these tactical tasks until they became “muscle-memory” for our Soldiers in the field. By becoming tactically proficient and able to maneuver and self-secure, our RECCE PLT increased its flexibility and response time in support of the BCT. Instead of relying on a maneuver unit to meet, escort, and then secure our PLT to the objective, we were able to position and maneuver our platoon to the supported unit’s location immediately and transition fluidly into our mission.
Team Sport – Integration
The last critical training focus was integration with supported units. While our platoon level STXs trained us to execute our tactical and technical mission, for the BCT FTX and JRTC, we knew we would often operate in support of other maneuver battalions. In order to train that critical integration process, the platoon leader worked with the BCT CBRN officer to develop a clear reporting and alert SOP, and the 21BEB S3 to build training opportunities that nested with the maneuver battalions.
As a result, we were able to execute platoon level missions in support of three different Battalion Task Forces during the Battalion FTX window prior to the BCT FTX and JRTC Rotation. The benefits were two-fold: 1) Our platoon established TTPs for establishing link-up and reporting critical CBRN hazard and threat information through different supported task forces, and 2) BN Task Forces across the BCT trained their integration processes and saw first-hand the capability Dismounted CBRN RECCE PLTs can provide to their maneuver operations.
Challenges
Just as CBRN RECCE provides unique capability to an IBCT, we also faced unique challenges. The greatest challenge was a lack of effective, collective training scenarios built into BN and BCT exercises. These are critical to employing the RECCE platoon’s unique contribution to their fight. Instead, RECCE platoons often operate in roles outside their primary purpose. These often include convoy security for escort missions, static security for the BN TOC, or a personal security detail for the BN Commander. Additionally, when the BCT does attempt to utilize the RECCE PLT in a CBRN mission, it is often an operational decontamination mission. The RECCE PLT is not equipped perform this mission.
Leader Understanding
Leaders across the BCT and BNs don’t understand the capability that RECCE brings to the fight. Therefore, they don’t build scenarios in their collective training to exercise the capability. To mitigate this, the RECCE Platoon Leader must advocate aggressively through the BEB S3 and BEB Commander. They need to ensure the CBRN threat is a part of all collective training exercises. They can help build scenarios to train RECCE Platoon’s contribution to the fight. Another means of building understanding is offering LPDs on CBRN threats and mitigation measures incorporating the RECCE Platoon.
Soldier Fitness
The average 74D arriving to the PLT was not physically prepared for the demands of a RECCE mission IBCT. While physical fitness is critical to every Soldier’s readiness, the RECCE Soldiers equipment places additional demands on their fitness. Operating in JSLIST, Level A/B suits, and other CBRNE PPE puts immense cardiovascular stress on the Soldier. In addition, a soldier that is breathing too heavily will deplete their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus more rapidly. This will reduce their available time on the objective. Conditioning new Soldiers and NCOs is a process that presents a significant challenge; they need to progress quickly without sustaining injury. We carefully reviewed PT plans prior to execution. We also split field time between tactical tasks, movement and CBRNE skills to prevent injury.
Way Ahead
The challenge of a RECCE Platoon in an IBCT that is preparing for an upcoming DATE JRTC Rotation is two-fold. Firstly, the platoon must internally train to be experts at their mission and tactically proficient as a maneuver element. Secondly, the platoon leader must consistently engage with the BEB and BCT staffs. They need to ensure that collective training events employ the RECCE platoon within its assigned role.
Dismounted CBRN Reconnaissance PLT, 21BEB, 3BCT, 101st ABN (AASLT) developed innovative TTPs to ensure it can provide the BDE with most accurate and pertinent information possible. Despite these challenges, the platoon strove to produce the best trained and most effective CBRN soldiers in the division. It exercised these TTPs in a BDE level fight. As such, they greatly increased understanding of its unique capabilities across the formation. CBRN RECCE PLTs will continue to improve and implement these concepts. They will spread the understanding for the foreseeable future, especially as the CBRN threat grows moving into future conflicts.
Capt. M. Benjamin Schulte served as the CBRN RECCE Platoon Leader for 3BCT, 101 ABN (AASLT) from September 2018 until October of 2020. Currently, he is attending CBRN CCC with a follow-on assignment to the 83rd Chemical BN at Ft. Stewart GA. He is a graduate of Florida A&M University and will be pursuing a Masters of Science in Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction.