The 1st BCT’s soldiers
also will learn how to use “the first ever nonlethal package
that the Army has fielded,” 1st BCT commander Col. Roger Cloutier
said, referring to crowd and traffic control equipment and nonlethal
weapons designed to subdue
unruly or dangerous individuals without killing
them.
“It’s a new
modular package of nonlethal capabilities that they’re fielding.
They’ve been using pieces of it in Iraq, but this is the first
time that these modules were consolidated and this package fielded,
and because of this mission we’re undertaking we were the
first to get it.”
The package includes
equipment to stand up a hasty road block; spike strips for slowing,
stopping or controlling traffic; shields and batons; and, beanbag
bullets.
“I was the first
guy in the brigade to get Tasered,” said Cloutier, describing
the experience as “your worst muscle
cramp ever — times
10 throughout your whole body.
“I’m not
a small guy, I weigh 230 pounds ... it put me on my knees in seconds.”
The brigade will not
change its name, but the force will be known for the next year as
a CBRNE Consequence Management
Response Force, or CCMRF (pronounced “sea-smurf”).
“I can’t
think of a more noble mission than this,” said Cloutier, who
took command in July. “We’ve been all over the world
during this time of conflict, but now our mission is to take
care of citizens at home ... and depending on where
an event occurred, you’re going home to take care of your
home town, your loved ones.”
