NMARNG units receive Chemical Biological Protective Shelters

SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Army National Guard selected units are receiving Chemical Biological Protective Shelters this week during an equipment fielding at the Combined Support Maintenance Shop here.

The fielding also includes classroom and hands-on training for 20 Soldiers from the receiving units. A fielding team from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command is providing the instruction.

Chief Warrant Office 3 Lewis Magyari, the state Force Integration Readiness Officer, said the fielding will “fill MTOE (Modified Table of Organization & Equipment) shortages and support medical facilities during chemical/biological operations.”

The U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center website (https://asc.army.mil/web/) describes the CBPS as “a mobile, self-contained, rapidly deployable, chemically and biologically protected shelter system that provides a contamination-free, environmentally controlled medical treatment area.”

The website also states: “The CBPS provides medical treatment teams and squads, consisting of four medical personnel, with a contamination-free and environmentally controlled medical treatment area to treat up to eight litter and ambulatory patients without the encumbrance of individual protective clothing and equipment. The CBPS is capable of being transported by ground, rail, sea or air.”

CBPS specifications include a “rigid wall shelter; heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; nuclear, biological and chemical filtration system; onboard primary and auxiliary electric power sources; deployable chemical biological protective fabric shelter with ambulatory and litter airlocks; and utilizes a Model M1085 Medium Tactical Vehicle to move the CBPS system as well as the medical treatment team’s equipment.”

The fielding began Aug. 31 and ends Sep. 3.

(Photos courtesy of CW3 Lewis Magyari)