San Diego -- MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.--Marines of Company A, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, put on their gas masks and entered the Confidence Chamber during training day 60 at Edson Range, Dec. 9.
The purpose was to ensure Marines knew how to properly use the equipment used for biological and chemical attacks. The chamber was filled with chlorobenzylidene malonitrile, or CS Gas, a non-lethal tear gas and also a riot control agent.
“The training the Marines received is to get them familiar with the M-50 Joint Service General Purpose Mask,” said Sgt. Jarrel T. Travis, drill instructor, Platoon 1002. “Marines need to know how to use it.”
Before Marines went into the chamber, they received numerous classes on what they would be performing.
“We teach Marines the assembly of the M-50 JSGPM, have them check the serviceability of the masks, immediate action drills and the effects of the CS gas,” said Sgt. Travis B Armstrong, chemical biological radiological and nuclear defense specialist, Weapons and Field Training Battalion. “Our number one goal is getting them confident with the equipment and making sure they know what to do when under pressure.”
When the classes were over the drill instructors lined the Marines up in groups of 58 to file them off into the chamber.
“GAS! GAS! GAS!” was screamed by drill instructors when they burst open the door of the chamber and quickly pushed the group of Marines inside.
Once the Marines were inside, they performed three exercises, head shaking, jumping jacks and breaking the seal of the mask. This was done to raise the recruit’s heartbeats to simulate a combat situation.
The last exercise, breaking the seal of the mask, was feared by most Marines because they would have to expose their faces to the gas.
The sounds of coughs and gags echoed throughout the chamber, allowing the Marines waiting for their turn to hear.
“When I first broke the seal I took one breath and it felt fine, then I took another and my throat started burning, the back of my neck was burning and my nose started running,” said Pvt. Bryce A. Asket.
Once the drill instructors saw each recruit had their mask off and face exposed, they were then instructed to put the masks back on and clear it so they could breathe normally again.
Just when the Marines thought it was over, the instructor made them endure the effects the gas once again.
“The second time I could compose myself, I came to the realization that the gas was not that bad and I was able to be a lot more calm than I was the first time,” said Akset, a native of Minnesota.
After the Marines put their masks back on, they were asked if they had felt confident in their abilities to use the M-50 JSGPM. They were then released out of the chamber to decontaminate their masks and breathe fresh air again.
Although Co. A Marines had passed the Confidence Chamber, in less than 24 hours they would endure the Crucible, which is a 54-hour test of endurance where Marines must conquer more than 30 obstacles while they experience food and sleep deprivation. This was the last test the Marines faced until they earned the title ‘Marine’.
“This is a really important thing to learn,” said Akset. “I think it’s something we should keep up on throughout our careers.”