Uploaded August 2017 | Updated September 2026, 16 hours ago
A film of the first simulated chemical warfare rapid runway repair (RRR) exercise conducted by the US Air Force. The purpose of this exercise was to evaluate the effects of wearing chemical protective gear (including clothing and respirators) on personnel, equipment operations and the time to accomplish the work. A simulated contaminated runway crater is shown being repaired by crew of the 601st Civil Engineering Squadron at Sembach Air Base in Germany. Repair crew wore complete chemical warfare protective overgarments, including gas masks, throughout the exercise. The film describes a number of problems encountered and how crews solved them.
This video, RAPID RUNWAY REPAIR, was produced by the USAF and is available at the US National Archive in College Park, Maryland. A special issue of Military Psychology reports behavioral sciences research on military performance as it is affected by chemical protective clothing (CPC): "Effects of Chemical Protective Clothing on Military Performance," of Military Psychology, 1997, 9(4), 251-415. http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a344294.pdf . This research reports on the degrading effects of CPC such as the gas mask's restriction on the wearer's visual field, the protective hood and gas mask's adverse effect on speech intelligibility and communication, restriction of mobility caused by limited angular movements about joints of the body, and degradation in manual dexterity of finger movements and psychomotor coordination. CPC significantly impairs overall sensorimotor task performance (two-handed fine dexterity). CPC's thermal burden combined with increased task loading associated with wearing CPC increases errors, dramatically shortens endurance times, and creates difficulties for
staying hydrated. Wearing CPC, impairments simple cognitive task performance in the form of longer reaction times, slower work rates, longer responses or lapses, and less accuracy at cognitive tasks. The concerns outlined in this special issue of Military Psychology have parallels
for civilian applications as well. The research findings and proposed solutions in this issue should help workers who require protection against exposure to toxic chemicals and hazardous materials, as in chemical manufacturing, hazardous waste disposal, and environmental cleanup of chemical and hazardous spills. Other workers include fire, police, and rescue squads, who may respond to emergency situations involving release of chemicals due to industrial accidents or terrorist actions. Personnel should train frequently in CPC on common tasks, and as well in larger scale team scenarios in which they practice working together, to ensure they are adequately trained to use their CPC and other protective equipment. Because CPC usually encumbers movement, breathing, heat exchange, and performance (especially during heavy physical work in high ambient temperatures), it is important that training be conducted under realistic conditions for maximal transfer of training. Lack of experience with the gas mask and CPC are good predictors of who will most likely experience difficulties or terminate during a field training exercise. Intensive training to do critical tasks in CPC can promote confidence, reduce adverse emotions, and better prepare personnel to work successfully on a contaminated site.
A film of the first simulated chemical warfare rapid runway repair (RRR) exercise conducted by the US Air Force. The purpose of this exercise was to evaluate the effects of wearing chemical protective gear (including clothing and respirators) on personnel, equipment operations and the time to accomplish the work. A simulated contaminated runway crater is shown being repaired by crew of the 601st Civil Engineering Squadron at Sembach Air Base in Germany. Repair crew wore complete chemical warfare protective overgarments, including gas masks, throughout the exercise. The film describes a number of problems encountered and how crews solved them.
This video, RAPID RUNWAY REPAIR, was produced by the USAF and is available at the US National Archive in College Park, Maryland. A special issue of Military Psychology reports behavioral sciences research on military performance as it is affected by chemical protective clothing (CPC): "Effects of Chemical Protective Clothing on Military Performance," of Military Psychology, 1997, 9(4), 251-415. http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a344294.pdf . This research reports on the degrading effects of CPC such as the gas mask's restriction on the wearer's visual field, the protective hood and gas mask's adverse effect on speech intelligibility and communication, restriction of mobility caused by limited angular movements about joints of the body, and degradation in manual dexterity of finger movements and psychomotor coordination. CPC significantly impairs overall sensorimotor task performance (two-handed fine dexterity). CPC's thermal burden combined with increased task loading associated with wearing CPC increases errors, dramatically shortens endurance times, and creates difficulties for
staying hydrated. Wearing CPC, impairments simple cognitive task performance in the form of longer reaction times, slower work rates, longer responses or lapses, and less accuracy at cognitive tasks. The concerns outlined in this special issue of Military Psychology have parallels
for civilian applications as well. The research findings and proposed solutions in this issue should help workers who require protection against exposure to toxic chemicals and hazardous materials, as in chemical manufacturing, hazardous waste disposal, and environmental cleanup of chemical and hazardous spills. Other workers include fire, police, and rescue squads, who may respond to emergency situations involving release of chemicals due to industrial accidents or terrorist actions. Personnel should train frequently in CPC on common tasks, and as well in larger scale team scenarios in which they practice working together, to ensure they are adequately trained to use their CPC and other protective equipment. Because CPC usually encumbers movement, breathing, heat exchange, and performance (especially during heavy physical work in high ambient temperatures), it is important that training be conducted under realistic conditions for maximal transfer of training. Lack of experience with the gas mask and CPC are good predictors of who will most likely experience difficulties or terminate during a field training exercise. Intensive training to do critical tasks in CPC can promote confidence, reduce adverse emotions, and better prepare personnel to work successfully on a contaminated site.
