The exercise was led by the brigade’s chief of chemical troops, Major Michał Stańczyk, and involved soldiers from the observation posts of the battalions as well as chemical troops instructors. The main elements whose effectiveness was verified included conducting observations, preparing CBRN reports (from the English Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) and transmitting them. – At this point, we checked whether the soldiers at the posts were able to respond properly to the situation and its development—a simulation of a real attack—Major Stańczyk explained. – The soldiers had to correctly interpret the actual threat, while the instructors had to forecast how events would unfold, thereby supporting the commanders of battalions and squadrons. They also had to transmit contamination data to the Contamination Analysis Centre (OAS), which is the highest-level link in the information flow system—our “chemical brain,” so to speak.
The soldiers’ performance of their tasks was further hampered by the weather. While Wednesday morning was frosty but dry, a real snowstorm began after noon. Despite the inconvenience, the soldiers taking part in the exercise remained at their posts. – During this exercise, I serve as the commander of an observation post. It is the first element used to detect contamination and notify the troops about it—these are our basic tasks: detecting chemical threats and strikes involving weapons of mass destruction, and notifying subsequent structures in order to activate the alarm procedure, protect against the effects and minimize them—reports Corporal Wojciech Chirowski, a soldier in the 1st Command Company of the Świętoszów command battalion. – We raise the alarm as quickly as possible because we do not know what may have been released. Then, as far as our capabilities allow, we determine what kind of agent we are dealing with—whether it is actually a chemical agent or perhaps merely a smoke screen.
The commander of the Contamination Analysis Centre (OAS), Junior Warrant Officer Sławomir Hoszecki, briefly explains how the contamination detection system operates. – The OAS supports the command process and serves as an advisory link for the chief of chemical troops. It collects all information in the contamination detection system concerning CBRN incidents. After receiving information from the posts and instructors, the centre commander or deputy commander marks the locations and ranges of contamination agents’ effects on a working map and serves as a source of information for subordinate elements regarding forecast contamination zones.
The Fog-16 training exercise tests what soldiers learn during the Contamination Threat Day held every month in the Brigade. It also concludes the training process for senior instructors in CBRN defence (defence against weapons of mass destruction), as well as for personnel assigned to contamination detection and monitoring teams.
Capt. Adriana Wołyńska 10BKPanc/ii