Lab Exercise at the Aachen MOUT Site

Instrumentation and Shielding cadets conducted a laboratory exercise at the Aachen MOUT site (Military Operations on Urban Terrain) on Camp Buckner. The exercise serves as a course culminating experience in that it allows cadets to integrate their classroom knowledge of radiation hazards and apply that knowledge in a field environment. Using radiation detection equipment, cadets conducted radiological surveys to locate, characterize, and identify radioactive isotopes hidden at the site. Cadets served in leadership roles on survey teams and then communicated the results of their radiological survey, and their advice on the advisability and risk of occupying the Aachen MOUT site, to an operational commander. This exercised the ability of cadets to articulate the science and appropriately communicate strategic messages. COL Reed (BTO) and COL Hartke (PaNE Deputy Head) acted as operational commanders and were briefed by the cadet teams.