Chemical Defense Training Facility

This is an overview of the Chemical Defense Training Facility (CDTF) which is located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It is a compilation of information from multiple sources found on the World Wide Web, printed materials, audio/visual media, and a personal interview. The covered topics will be: The history of the CDTF to include its beginning at Fort McClellan, the mission of the CDTF at Fort Leonard Wood, the current leadership, the capability of its facilities, and the training conducted there. It emphasizes the need for a facility where members of all the services of the Department of Defense (DOD), some civilian agency personnel, and foreign entities can receive realistic training. The common theme is the safety with which training has been, and continues to be conducted within its facilities.

History

The Chemical Defense Training facility was originally located at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The Chemical School was established at Fort McClellan in 1979 (U.S. Army, 1986), but after the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided to close Fort McClellan the training was moved to the new location in Fort Leonard Wood. The official closing ceremony was held on May 20, 1999. In the article “The End of an Illustrious Career” Major General R. G. Wooten is quoted as having said (2014):

For more than 81 years, Fort McClellan set the standard of excellence in training America's sons and daughters to defend freedom in two world wars and a myriad of conflicts and operations. In the last generation, we were singularly responsible for providing our Army with the world's finest military police and chemical soldiers. Our pride is justified by our spectacular success!

The new CDTF facility was completed in 1999 with a cost $27 m...

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...nication, May 22, 2014)

Unknown. (May 22, 2014). “The End of an Illustrious Career.” Transition Force. History. Retrieved from (May 22, 2014) http://www.mcclellan.army.mil/Info.asp?article_id=12

The United States Army | Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri | CBRN School | 3rd Chemical Brigade. (May 20, 2014). The United States Army | Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri | CBRN School | 3rd Chemical Brigade. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://www.wood.army.mil/newweb/chemical/3rdChem/3rdchem.html

U.S. Army (Director). (1986). Chemical Decontamination Training Facility (CDTF): Vanguard for Chemical Defense Training. United States: The United States Army.

United States Chemcial, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School. (n.d.). E.F. Bullen CBRN Defense Training Facility (CDTF). [Brochure]. Fort Leonard Wood, MO: United States Chemcial, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School.