137ARW CBRNE Training Sept. 2014

Members of the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron listen as Tech. Sgt. Timothy Coterall, CBRNE instructor for the 137th ARW, teaches the last class using the old training format Sept. 7. A new training format is scheduled to premier in October. (Official Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brigette Waltermire/Released)

137 ARW CBRNE Training Sept. 2014

Tech. Sgt. Larry Mansell, a member of the 146th ASOS (middle), and Lt. Col. James Waltermire, commander of the 146th ASOS (right), participate in CBRNE training Sept. 7. The 146th ASOS attended the last CBRNE training before a new format will be implemented in October. (Official Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brigette Waltermire/Released)

137 ARW CBRNE training Sept. 2014

Tech. Sgt. Timothy Cotterall, CBRNE instructor for the 137th ARW, demonstrates the use of the Antidote Treatment, Nerve Agent, Autoinjector. The ATNAA is a single autoinjector that contains antidotes to neutralize certain nerve agents. (Official Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brigette Waltermire/Released)

Upcoming changes to CBRNE procedures will shorten training time

Published Sept. 7, 2014
By Tech. Sgt. Trisha Smeenk
137 ARW

OKLAHOMA CITY -- New training for the 137th ARW is scheduled to come out in October covering chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives. Members of the 137th ARW are currently required to complete CBRNE training through online computer based trainings and a hands on class. The new format will exclude computerized training and replace it with a one hour lecture.

Senior Master Sgt. David E. Perez, Base Emergency Manager for the 137th ARW, organizes CBRNE training for the 137th ground force. Perez said the new training will cut down the time Airmen spend clicking through over 100 computer slides and allow them to ask an instructor questions face to face making training more interactive.

"It does effectively cut an eight-hour program down to two hours," said Perez. "In case someone has a question, the instructor is there. I think it is going to be really good."
The first set of 137th Airmen to complete the new system lecture are scheduled for November. The class will consist of three main areas: M8 and M9 tape, how to run a par route, and how to go through a transition point.

Tech. Sgt. Timothy A. Cotterall, CBRNE instructor for the 137th ARW, taught the last class using the old format over the September Unit Training Assembly for a group of Air Force Special Operation Squadron members. Cotterall pointed out several examples of incidents throughout the past and present to hammer home the importance of CBRNE class and training with their gear.

"This stuff is changing the way we operate, the way we think and the way we train," said Cotterall. "You get faster when you do it more. Repetition makes a difference."
Airmen train with the actual mask they deploy with. Training will be required at least every three years, in addition to every time a member deploys.