The Combined Arms Breach. Probably one of the busiest days for our Sidewinder team. The engineer effort during breach operations is rightly the primary maneuver support effort, but what is role of the CBRN officer during this type of offensive operation? Focus will be on staff 1/

The principles of the Breach are SOSRA: Supress, Obscure, Secure, Reduce, Assault. As with all BCT/BN operations, the CBRN officer needs to be familiar with maneuver doctrine to understand the key concepts and what the overall task and purpose of the BCT/Bn will be. /2

Working with the S2 during Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, the CBRN officer needs to develop potential enemy CBRN targets that will impact friendly scheme of maneuver iaw with known eny doctrine. Nonpersistent chemical strike may be used to disrupt breach force /3

Or to disrupt battle positions & the npchem allowed to weather prior to a counterattack, for example. Persistent chem may be used to block avenues of approach or impact supply lines, etc. Working with S2, Fires and Weather Officer the Chemo identifies the most likely employment/4

With the S2, CBRN NAIs are identified and the organic BCT NBCRV asset alligned against those CBRN NAIs to gain contact with Eny CBRN iaw the intelligence collection plan. CBRN officer then determines the appropriate protection (mopp) req based on the eny templated threat. /5

At the BCT level, the CBRN officer identifies thorough decon points and gives the support mission to the attached (if available) Hazard Response company. Works with HR Co for sustainment/water reqs and identifies clean and dirty routes to and from thorough decon point /6

At the Bn level, Bn Cbrn identifies operational decon points. They work with operations cell and the cdr to determine what risk level is acceptable for continuing to fight in mopp to achieve cdrs endstate. Cbrn Priority intel reqs at all levels feed mopp upgrade/downgrade decs/7

Cbrn officer at both bde/bn level work with medical officer during mdmp to identify clean and dirty aid stations and the contaminated casualty care plan. /8

At the NTC, Blackhorse will slime units at the breach. Blackhorse will close avenues of approach with persistent chem. Did the S2 and chemo work together to predict it? Was mopp set for threat? Were recon assets arrayed correctly? Were mitigation (decon) efforts planned/rxls? /9

As the recent publication of OPWC report on Syrian use of chemical munitions shows, CBRN is a weapon still willing to be employed by unscrupulous adversaries. Proper understanding of our staff role will ensure our maneuver units are ready for that fight. 10/10