Hip-Pocket Classes: #001 Chemicological Weapons

As current events unfold around the world, you all might be confused by some of the things you hear. Sometimes it's from a lack of proper information, sometimes it's from  the rumor mill, and sometimes it's blatant misinformation. That's why the FOB is going to do hip pocket classes to give you some point of reference for these issues.

Now do remember, that we don't, and can't speak for our respective militaries, but we can give you background information, that might be able to give you the chance to make a more informed decision about believing what you hear.

Lets start with something easy... Chemical Weapons with Vapor Blaze!

            Howdy ponies! Vapor here, your resident chemical weapon specialist! Actually, I'm a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist with the US Army. We in the military like acronyms, so we shorten that to CBRN. You might have seen my name on the FOB Equestria Facebook, but I've been pulled by FOB Command to write up a little something.

            Now, with the recent reports of Syrian use of chemical weapons, y'all might have some questions. Well to answer some, we're going to start out with a little history. Uses of chemicals, toxins and diseases in warfare goes way back. Spartans used wood soaked in sulfur, and ancient Chinese chose to send sick prisoners of war back home, to spread their disease. More recently, Confederate soldiers in the US Civil War sent clothing and blankets infected with smallpox to New York.

            Modern chemical weapons didn't evolve until World War I, where Germany and France began developing chemicals specifically for the purpose of delivery in combat to kill, injure or incapacitate their enemies. The first large-scale effective use, was in 1915 when Germany deployed chlorine gas against England. From that point on, most large nations have developed chemical weapons, and various defenses against them.

Rather historically accurate chem pony for WW1.

            Most nations now have defenses (either self-developed or borrowed) against chemical weapons. With the creation of the Chemical Weapons Conventions, however, most countries have agreed to stop producing chemical weapons and to destroy their stockpiles. Current US policy, for example, is to never use chemical weapons.

            To clear up a little potential confusion, lets define chemical weapons! Chemical weapons are defined as chemical substances intended for use in military operations to deny access to an area (in the case of persistent agents) or to kill, injure or incapacitate its victims. Some chemical weapons dissipate quickly, and some stick around for a long time. Some are designed to kill while others are designed with the purpose of simply incapacitating.

            One form of chemical weapon in particular, is the nerve agent. Nerve agents are designed to disrupt the electrical signals traveling through your nerves. These can be persistent or temporary (the former needing to be cleaned up, the latter which will dissipate eventually). Symptoms of exposure to nerve agents generally start mild, such as a runny nose and/or tightness in the chest, then progressively worsen until victims often die from inability to control their diaphragms.

            Some of these weapons are deployed as gases, some liquids, and some are deployed as liquids that later produce gases. Lets take Sarin for an example, since Syria has a lot. Sarin, also known as GB, is a colorless liquid with almost no odor in its pure state. Depending on weather, heavily saturated areas will generally remain dangerous for up to 2 days. The gases released by Sarin are nearly 5 times heavier than air, so will spread along the ground.

            The US Army Chemical Corps, US Army CBRN School, CBRN specialists throughout the rest of the military, civilian sector specialists, and international agencies have been working together to develop defenses against these threats. Currently, the US military uses a protective outfit called Joint Services, Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) and either the M-40 Protective Mask or the new (not yet fully fielded) M-50 Protective Mask. These outfits consist of protective coats, trousers, boots, and gloves. JSLIST provides protection against liquids and many gaseous chemical weapons. It's approximately comparable to a civilian Level C chemical protective suit, though has some differences. 

Vapor Blaze's MOPP suit is 20% cooler than all the other MOPP suits.

            As a Chemical Soldier, I have had the pleasure to train in full JSLIST in an environment contaminated with both Sarin and VX (another nerve agent). I'm no more strange after that training than I was before going through it!

Remember to always conduct safe shipping!

... Thank you Vapor Blaze.

If any of you guys have questions, go ahead and ask in the comments section, or email us at fobequestria@gmail.com on a topic you think we ought to cover.

SEMPER FILLY!