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File: 082696_doc1_494.txt
Page: 494
Total Pages: 652

I-.
          (12) There are no current maintenance procedures established
  for the Porta Count within the Marine Corps.  Procurement of this
  item without a concurrent establishment of a maintenance plan is
  contrary to Marine Corps doctrine.   Therefore, procure such repair
  parts and consumable material necessary for maint~ining the Por4~a
  Count in a operational status, less calibration.  Provide factory
  training of a new equipment team in maintenance and repair
  concurrent with the fielding of the Porta Count.

          (13) Without an established maintenance program for
  supporting the Porta Count It is anticipated that within a week of
  continuous field use fifty percent of the instruments will require
  maintenance above the operator capability.  This conclusion is based
  on operator inexperience and anticipated field conditions to which
  the item will be subjected.   To preclude this unnecessary
  operational downtime of the instrument it is necessary to have an
  intermediate maintenance capability for at least six months.   TSI
  corporation is willing to assemble for procurement necessary field
  maintenance kits that will support this requirement.

          (14) The Porta Count is a highly reliable instrument when
  used by a trained individual.   At a minimum the operator of the
  Porta Count must receive ten hours of hands on training to be
  initially certified and then be recertified on a annual basis. The
  certification and recertification should be accomplished by the KMK
  NBC Schools for all NBC Defense personnel.

           (15) The Porta Count was set to a protection factor of 6667
  during the operational test, which is the supposed ideal setting for
  field protective masks.   When deployed the Porta Count should be set
  to a protection factor dictated by the anticipated actual threat.
  In most cases the actual protection factor necessary for a worn mask
  will be below 6667.   While only sixty-six percent of the test
  subjects were able to achieve the 6667 level of protection,
  eighty-one percent were able to achieve a 3333 level of protection.
  Kurther, eighty eight percent were able to achieve a 1667 level of
  protection.  As the use and purpose of the Porta Count becomes more
  familiar, realistic protection factors for the geographical area of
  deployment are established and the training of Marines in proper
  mask donning procedures,  it is projected that the fit validation
  percentages will increase.

  b.  Recommendations.

      (1)  That the operational test plan be modified to reflect
  exercises and procedures contained herein.

      (2)  That a quantity of ten sampling tubes at a cost of ~2.~~
  each, be included with each Porta Count.

      (S)  That three drink tube lever retaining devices, at a cost of


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