Originally Posted by Homer
From memory, and what’s left of some notes, here’s a rundown of individual “go-to-war” MOPP issue circa mid 90s-mid 2000s.
If memory serves, we deployed with a partial issue (masks, filters, 2x jslist suits and a set of gloves and booties) and got the rest in theater from prepo. There was at least one turn in of some home station stuff to replace it with newer gear. We got the NAAKs, etc about a month out from crossing the berm, started wearing mask carrier and ICE Pack. By later trips, they were issuing the bare minimum again (didn’t even always carry mask).
1x M40 or M42 (mounted crewman) mask. The M42 is an M40 fitted with a hose, canister assembly, microphone plug in, and fitting for vehicle gas particular filter (GPFU). Mask stores in a case carried on the left side of the body (or in the top of the ruck if you’re a hardcore light fighter). The mask gets issued with clear and tinted ballistic outserts and a green tint laser outsert is also available. Also gets issued with a training C2 canister, and face form but those get ditched for real use. The case also comes with a waterproof bag for the mask, and manual. The mask uses a side mounted canister, and the D ring on the case serves as a wrench to swap out the voicemitter to left or right side. Mask was also fitted with a hood that covered head and neck, hooking under the armpits.
2-4 (SOP and books said three, actual issue was 4) “MOPP suits”. Either the old style Chemical Protective Overgarment (CPOG) in OD green or the newer Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) in woodland or 3 color desert. They came sealed in a vacuum pack that you broke open on order to don your first suit. Second suit traveled with you in an individual chemical equipment (ICE) pack; a woodland camo bag with extra JSLIST, boots, gloves, hood, helmet cover, decon wipes, and filter canister. Theoretically the ICE pack fit onto the back of LCE, but was usually put on the top of the ruck or assault pack. The third and fourth suits were typically carried in a duffel bag or palletized in the trains. The CPOG was good for four hours once exposed, while the JSLIST was good for 12 (I think); either way, the goal was to decontaminate and exchange to “clean” gear ASAP to get out of mask and gloves. Unlike Soviet style gear, the CPOG and JSLIST “breathed” to a degree.
3 sets of Nerve Agent Antidote Kit (NAAK). A clip with an auto injector of atropine and another of 2PAM CL. Carried in pocket of MOPP suit. Give yourself the first one if you’ve been exposed to nerve agent (small atropine then large 2PAM). Your buddy gives you the rest. Needles get bent through pocket flap to show medics what you’ve been given.
1 Convulsive Antidote Nerve Agent (CANA). Autoinjector carried in pocket of MOPP suit. Administered by your buddy after NAAK. Same drill with needles.
1xM291 Skin Decon Kit. A wallet of six skin decon wipes, two per decon. Carried in a hard plastic case that fits the pouch on the rear of the mask case. Can also clip onto LBE, etc. with a snap hook. Usually no problem getting more, they get expended in training. Decon powder turns skin black/grey.
1x M295 Decon Kit. Four vacuum sealed decon mitts used for personal equipment, weapons, etc. Two mitts per decon. Stains your gear black/grey. No problem getting more. Carried extras of both decon kits at 1 per ICE pack. Ready set in ruck, assault pack, or mopp gear pockets.
1x Book M8 detector paper. Turns color to indicate type of liquid agent. Put on stick or something and poke it in puddle of agent then read like litmus paper. Carried in pockets of mopp gear.
1x dispenser M9 detector paper. Light grey/green color with adhesive back. Turns color when exposed to liquid agent, but doesn’t classify type of agent. Taped on legs, arm, wrist of mopp gear. Also attached to vehicles. Extras of both types of paper issued.
3x C2 canisters. Filter for M40, screws on and off. Comes in sealed can with opening key- like a Spam can. Good for variable periods depending on agent, but goal is decon and exchange. Can change canisters in contaminated environment.
Extra canisters issued and carried in ICE packs.
1 pair butyl rubber gloves- like chemistry lab gloves. Left and right are interchangeable. Come with a white cotton liner for comfort and grip. Exchanged with mopp gear. Worn in Mopp 4.
1 pair over boots- these are identical to the black or green rain boots issued at CIF. Exchanged with mopp gear. Worn at mopp 2 or higher. Extras in ICE packs.
1x mask hood- OD green/gray issued with mask and exchanged with mopp gear. Extras in ICE packs.
1x helmet cover- Od green/gray, fits over combat helmet like a shower cap. Donned when exposure imminent. Exchanged with mopp gear. Can’t wear it and use helmet mounted nvgs. Put inside the Kevlar PASGT helmet it makes a good basin for field use. Extras in ICE packs.
1x package Nerve Agent Pretreatment (NAP) pills. Increase the efficiency of NAAK when taken on order before exposure. Issued for ODS in 91, but not for GWOT due to potential medical effects.
1x package antibiotic pretreatment. Issued for biological threats and started on order. Cipro, doxycycline, etc.; typical issue is 30 days supply with additional issued as unit determines (got 90 days in real issue).
That’s an individual rundown as best as I remember. I think the USAF, navy, and
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