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   Marine Corps Logisti~s Ba-c*~
    Albany   Georgia ~l~O4-5OOO

87/835
04 Feb Ql

TAT~k'TM~ PAP~~

SUBJECT:  MASk TESTING CAPABILITY IN SWA

AC~~~flT~bJTh

Since 1985, Test and Evaluation Unit  (T&EU) results have consistent-
ly shown a degradation in protective masks after usage and training.
Specifically, statistics obtained from MEUs SOC have shown substan-
tial failures upon completion of deployment    For the past- two
years, all MEUs SOC were 100 percent tested prior to deployment.
Those tested upon return showed. a significant nuinber of  failures.

DTSCUSSTOM



A~- Units participating in Desert.Shield/Storrn were issued either
new or machine tested masks prior to or shortly after deployment.
Concern is that many of these. units have been deployed for several
months and mask usage has been extensive.   Based on the information
herein and detailed statistics the time for re-testing i~ rapidly
approaching

B    Several options are.available to provide a testing capability in
SWA    Each option.requires the utilization of equipment and person-
nel skills resident in the T&EUs.   To place a capability in SWA
would seriously degrade our CONUS capability      This situation is
additionally impacted by the seven Marines already pulled from the
T&EUs for combat replacement -companies -   Prior to functioning within
the T&EU, a Marine requires between two to six weeks formal training
at Pine Bluff, Arkansas..

                        C.   Several options are av~ailable to include, placing assets aboard
                        naval shipping, moving the existing tractor trailer. configuration as
                        is, designing a she 1 ter/container version,          or a permanent facility.
                             1  * Shelter Aboard Naval Shipping.          This version is considered

                       *;~the least~~desirable due to dependence on ship movement and availabi-


                        ..-,** 2.-.?'~~Existing Tractor Trailer.     The tractor trailer would be the
                     ..,~fas.tes.t and -1 east expensive means if air shipment       (C-S) could be
                                            --`-Ho
  ).V                  ~                       ~ever, the van is commercially configured, not hardened
                        for t'ac.ti~~a1~'~perations.        The ability to withstand a harsh combat
                       ~$-~nvironmen%.isseriously.questionable
                               -            *  . *            -7
                         7-'. 3.-Co ntai nerized- Shelter          The shelter/container configuration
                       ~~0~ld't&k'~¼.tw0~.t9~t.h~~~..       e~ 5 to build at a cost of appro~imately

                          .     `:~~` ?-~,.          *---  .   -

\~; :~- :~~.H~?,-~;'~        i. --~` )- -,..`  - ..

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