RISK MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MOPP

2. POSSIBLE. The expressed affirmation or assessed political will of an adversary to use CBR warfare increases the threat potential to a possible involvement in a CBR environment. Implemen- tation of MOBB-2 countermeasures is indicated. 3. PROBABLE. Statements of intent to employ CBR warfare, directed at U.S. forces or allies, changes in political or military posture of an adversary possessing CBR capabilities, or use of CBR warfare within the OPAREA present a chance of probable involvement in a CBR environment. This threat level requires an estimate of the earliest time the CBR environment will be encountered. This estimate must be based on the strike ranges of delivery systems and the time it takes the strike to arrive at the nearest range limits. Implementation of MOPP-3 counter- measures is indicated. 4. IMMINENT. Confirmation of increased activity involving delivery systems, recognized platform attack patterns, electronic or visual indication of employment of delivery systems, or the immediate proximity of known CBR hazard areas present an imminent danger of contamina- tion and/or casualties. Implementation of MOPP-4 countermeasures is essential. RISK MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MOPP The decision to initiate or upgrade the ship’s MOPP begins with determining the threat level, ship’s mission, and the corresponding MOPP- level countermeasures that provide the minimum acceptable degree of risk. An increase in the threat level does not necessarily justify immediate execution of all countermeasures included in the corresponding MOPP level. The next step is to determine the time at which the countermeasures comprising that MOPP level should begin. The time required to take counter- measures must be compared to the time remaining until either the threat level increases or the risk becomes unacceptable. Waiting too long to start countermeasures increases the risk to the ship’s mission because of the risk to personnel surviv- ability. Alternately, starting countermeasures too early will degrade the crew’s performance for sustained operations in the CBR environment and will ultimately limit the ship’s ability to complete the mission. All countermeasures must be in effect immediately before the ship becomes involved in a CBR environment. Immediately following the attack, an assess- ment of the ship’s involvement in the CBR hazard is required to determine which countermeasures should remain in effect to enhance survivability and sustain operation. Frequent reassessments should be made to identify the earliest practical time(s) to secure the countermeasures and upgrade crew performance for optimum mission capability. MOPP Level-1 (Suspected Threat) Protection During MOPP level-1 the following actions must be taken: 1. Individual Protection—Issue the following individual protective equipment and medical supply items to shipboard personnel and maintain them at respective battle stations: Protective masks (fitted for immediate use) Chemical protection —Protective masks (with new, unopened canister) —Chemical protective overgarments (2 piece) —Chemical protective overboots —Chemical protective glove set —Personnel decontamination kit Medical supply items —Atropine auto-injectors (3) —2-PAM-\Cl auto-injectors (2) —Pyridostigmine pretreatment tablets (21) Biological protection—Consists of the same protective equipment required for chemical protection, minus the medical items. Chemical threat is assumed to be “worst case,” unless reliable intelligence indicates otherwise. Radiological protection—Requires the mask only (with new, unopened canisters). 7-2