Detailed Aircraft Decontamination (DAD) of chemical or biological weapons is a five station, five-stage process consisting of a primary rinse, application of the decontamination soap, scrub of the aircraft, a second rinse from top to bottom and front to back, and a final check with a detector.
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense Marines with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 39 recently conducted DAD training as an introductory-level event for squadrons in 3RD Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW).
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rafael Trevino, MAG-39 CBRN officer, explained that each squadron should have reconnaissance, surveillance and decontamination (RSD) teams trained within their units. This training provides an opportunity for teams to conduct the physical decontamination themselves while CBRN Marines provide the equipment and gear – enabling each unit's Marines to wash down the aircraft in an instructional environment.
Each participating squadron provided at least 10 Marines to conduct the training on their aircraft and received guidance from eight CBRN Marines who have expertise in the decontamination process.
In a full-scale DAD, the aircraft would move 50 meters between each station and the process could take several hours. If the aircraft does not pass the monitoring stage with the detection equipment it would be recycled back to the beginning and restart the process.
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron [VMFA(AW)] 225 participated in the training.
Adapted from article by Brytani Wheeler, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Edited for context and format by CBRNE Central.