TREATMENT OF CHEMICAL AGENT CASUALTIES NOR NAVSURNLANT SHIPS

File: 082696_doc1_543.txt
Page: 543
Total Pages: 652


-~                                POINt' P~PER


      Subj:  CHEMIO~L PROTECTIYE M~SKS, M17~1s/M17~2s

      1.   The asset posture of the Mi7~I and MI7~2 masks in issuable
      condition is depicted belo~:

                      M17~1                            M17~2

                M~E    MEB    Total             M~B    MBB      Total

                7,111 3,181  10,292          28,292  7,979     3~,271

      2.   The standard issue mask is the Ml7~2. ~s sho~n above, ~je also
      have 10,292 M17~1s.  The Ml7~1s can be issued as a suitable
      substitute but only after 100 percent testing.  The ~1s are older
      and should only be issued ~hen l7~2 stocks are depleted.

      3.   The asset posture for the M17~2 is presently fairly good.   \Ae
      have been able to obtain approximately 40,000 ne~ MI7~2s (free
      issue) from the source of supply (B14, ~MOCOM, Rock Island,
      Illinois).  ~ithout these masks, ~e ~ould have already depleted our
      stocks.

-     4.   The initial dra~ do~n ~~as generated by exchanging masks ~ith
      1st MEB (approximately E,000) and 7th MEB (approximately 1~,000).
      The majority of 4th MEB has been tested and 5th and ~th MESs have
      been 100 percent tested.

      5.   Our posture should continue to improve. The 8,000 from 1st MEB
      have been received and are being cleaned, tested and either
      returned to stock or scheduled for rebuild.  \Ae should start
      receiving the 7th MEB returns soon.  V\e expect to eventually return
      at least 50 percent of the approximate 24,000 to stock ~jithout
      rebuild.  This estimate is based on statistical data maintained by
      the Testing and Evaluation Units (T&EUs) at ~lbany and Barsto~j.

      ~.   Our reconstitution plan is based on t~o separate evolutions.
      The first is taking returned masks and placing them back into
      issuable stock.  This is accomplished by sorting, cleaning,
      sanitizing and testing.  In some cases,  limited repair is also
      performed.  Eased on past statistics, `ne suspect that at least 50
      percent of our returns ~ill pass testing and be returned to stock.
      This process is performed by the T&EUs at ~lbany and Barsto~.    The
      second evolution is the utilization of a Depot Maintenance
      Interservice Support ~greement  (DMIS~) vjhen/if funded. The Storage
      and Distribution Directorate maintains this ~ith ~MCOOM.   Pine
      Bluff, ~rkansas, performs the actual rebuild of these masks.   The
      rebuilds that are returned from Pine Bluff combined ~ith those
      already placed back into stock give us an excel lent reconstitution
      plan.