Chemical Smoke (CS). The common term is tear gas, a substance that on dispersion in the atmosphere blinds the eyes with tears. Besides riot control, it is a means by which the Army uses to test the fit of a soldiers protective mask. CS is relatively harmless, though exposure can be an overwhelming experience as your eyes water and burn, your skin feels as if it is laced with hundreds of needles, and breathing becomes difficult. Once you are clear of the area, however, effects from the gas disappear rapidly.

In the Army, each testing experience is very similar. Standing in a formation, an overview and safety briefing is given. There is always an element of humor woven in, no matter who provides the introductory talk. After all, you're about to walk into a situation where regardless of how controlled as an individual you may be, you WILL lose some of that control at the hands of the chamber master. For this day's tour de force of inhaled misery, our welcoming talk was provided by Master Sergeant Nickles. With his Mississippi drawl and a crusty edge that can only come from years in the NCO core, Master Sergeant Nickles made it clear that he was there to help and be understanding, "If for any reason that your mask is not working, I'll fix you up and you'll head right back in there. You will participate... and the sign-in roster is outside the exit door."

Once inside, soldiers are lined up in a circle against the walls. Instructions are given by the NCO inside the chamber, who also oversees safety, and maintains the level of CS gas to ensure a full experience for all of those in attendance.

The testing begins with a series of exercises... running in place, push-ups, and general calisthenics. Instructions are then given to break the seal on your mask, raising your mask up and away from your face for a count of five seconds. Once the time is reached, each person then re-fits their mask, followed by the procedures that both clear and seal the mask to the face. This exercise is essential, as it teaches the soldiers how to react in a chemical environment, especially if a mask seal is broken. Naturally, failure to re-seal the mask properly comes with the powerful reminders that only CS can provide.

There is always an element of challenge and survival built into these testing's. In this drill, Specialist Custer, a member of the HHC from Eugene, Oregon, had decided to make an attempt to break the standing record of 162 push-ups inside of the chamber without wearing his mask. After all of our basic tests were complete, Specialist Custer took off his mask and began counting off his push-ups in the gas filled room. Though he only reached 80, his efforts were commendable, as he absorbed the misery of the gas that the rest of us were protected from via our masks.

Upon departure, masks were removed in the fresh air of the outdoors. And just as Mas-ter Sergeant Nickles had promised, the sign-in roster was there... outside of the exit door.

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Copyright, Scott Kesterson- 2006

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