Cleaning up the battlefield: Altus Airmen take on CBRN training with Fort Sill

Published Sept. 24, 2025
By Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

FORT SILL, Okla. (AFNS) --

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear — more commonly known throughout the military as CBRN — refers to the malicious use of hazardous materials or agents that can cause widespread illness, injury or death.

Airmen from Altus Air Force Base’s 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, Readiness and Emergency Management Flight set up a decontamination line at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, September 7, 2025. This event not only supported operations at Fort Sill—it also gave the Airmen of the 97th the opportunity to train newer members and demonstrate their capability to lead decontamination processes for a large formation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux) — U.S. Air Force Airmen from Altus Air Force Base’s 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, Readiness and Emergency Management Flight set up a decontamination line at Fort Sill, Okla., Sept. 7, 2025. This event not only supported operations at Fort Sill — it also gave the Airmen of the 97th the opportunity to train newer members and demonstrate their capability to lead decontamination processes for a large formation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)

So, why does the military train for these types of attacks? To ensure mission readiness in environments where such hazards may be present.

Recently, Airmen from Altus Air Force Base’s 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, Readiness and Emergency Management Flight traveled to Fort Sill, to support the U.S. Army’s 3-2 Air Defense Artillery Battalion in achieving its CBRN training objectives.

“Our task was to provide decontamination sites for two Patriot batteries and their accompanying reconnaissance, selection and occupation of position elements,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Alexander Trippett, Emergency Management Logistics and Training noncommissioned officer in charge. “The Army and Air Force approach decontamination differently, but thankfully, the Department of War’s CBRN tactics, techniques and procedures are captured in joint-service publications. We were able to quickly train ourselves up and conduct internal rehearsals prior to joining their exercise.”

This event not only supported operations at Fort Sill — it also gave the Airmen of the 97th the opportunity to train newer members and demonstrate their capability to lead decontamination processes for a large formation.

An Airman from Altus Air Force Base’s 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, Readiness and Emergency Management Flight simulates decontaminating a U.S. Army vehicle during an exercise at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, September 7, 2025. During the exercise, Soldiers from the 3-2 Air Defense Artillery Battalion simulated exposure to an unknown Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear agent. This forced them to rapidly break down their camp and move all personnel and equipment through a decontamination line before establishing a new position. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux) — A U.S. Air Force Airman from Altus Air Force Base’s 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, Readiness and Emergency Management Flight simulates decontaminating a U.S. Army vehicle during an exercise at Fort Sill, Okla., Sept. 7, 2025. During the exercise, Soldiers from the 3-2 Air Defense Artillery Battalion simulated exposure to an unknown Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear agent. This forced them to rapidly break down their camp and move all personnel and equipment through a decontamination line before establishing a new position. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)

“In a future conflict, Air Force CBRN specialists may find themselves operating in small teams — mobile detachments tasked with a wide array of responsibilities and minimal oversight,” Trippett added.

During the exercise, Soldiers from the 3-2 ADA simulated exposure to an unknown CBRN agent. This forced them to rapidly break down their camp and move all personnel and equipment through a decontamination line before establishing a new position.

Once the teams arrived at the decontamination site, Airmen from Altus AFB briefed them on the process and guided them through the decontamination of their vehicles, equipment and individual gear.

“For this exercise, I’m most proud of the speed at which the team was able to plan and mobilize, enter the simulated area of operations, execute its tasks, and redeploy to receive a new mission,” Trippett said. “Training like this improves our agility and efficiency, allowing us to accomplish even more in the future.”

An M4A1 Joint Chemical Agent Detector kit sits on a table during a decontamination exercise at Fort Sill Oklahoma, September 7, 2025. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear training is fundamentally about survivability, adaptability, and mission success in extreme environments—and this joint exercise proved that cross-service collaboration enhances all three. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux) — An M4A1 Joint Chemical Agent Detector kit sits on a table during a decontamination exercise at Fort Sill Okla., Sept. 7, 2025. Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear training is fundamentally about survivability, adaptability and mission success in extreme environments — and this joint exercise proved that cross-service collaboration enhances all three. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)

CBRN training is fundamentally about survivability, adaptability and mission success in extreme environments — and this joint exercise proved that cross-service collaboration enhances all three.

Looking ahead, Trippett shared his vision for streamlined joint operations:

“I want us to get to the point where a mission partner can pick up the phone, ask for a CBRN specialist team and get the full package — without excessive planning, funding or service-support requirements.”