Incirlik first USAFE base to receive new gas mask

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Russell
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the German High Command and the Allied powers used five kinds of poisonous gas which caused more than 30 percent of American casualties.

Since then, gas mask design has developed exponentially.

One of the first gas masks issued to American Armed Forces was the British Small Box Respirator, developed in 1917.

The newest gas mask design the Air Force is issuing to Airmen is the M-50 Joint Service General Purpose Mask, an upgrade from the previous Mask Canister Unit Personnel Type 2 Series mask.

"The M-50 includes a new drinking system, better overall comfort, reduced breathing resistance along with upgraded communications, that allow clear communications [system] while wearing the mask," said Airman 1st Class Brandon Ashcraft, 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management.

Although the MCU-2 mask is still in regular use, a few select bases are slated to have the M-50 in operation.

Incirlik was the first base within United States Air Forces in Europe to receive the new mask.

The mask has been issued to first-term Airmen who arrived after Dec. 1, some first responders, and other Air Force specialties responsible for training personnel to wear chemical protective gear.

Emergency Management is one of these specialties.

"We bear the primary responsibility for training personnel to wear their chemical gear properly," said Airman Ashcraft. "It is important for us to familiarize ourselves with the M-50 before training the base populace to use this piece of equipment."

Staff Sgt. Sergio Garcia, 39th Medical Operations Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering Readiness and Training noncommissioned officer in-charge, is a member of the Incirlik team responsible for ensuring Airmen have gas masks that fit properly.

"Our role, in bioenvironmental, is to conduct quantitative fit tests for the new M-50," he said. "We ensure everyone who receives this mask is properly fitted to ensure the integrity of the mask when donned properly."

The fit test has not changed from the MCU-2; adapters are placed on the equipment to provide the compatibility with the new mask, said Sergeant Garcia.

The new mask was made to integrate with the current chemical gear, consisting of joint service light integrated suit technology.

The only aspect not compatible with the old mask is the MCU-2 gas mask inserts. Though the M-50 has improved visibility and seal, new gas mask inserts must be ordered to ensure these assets function as designed.

"This gas mask minimizes the impact to the wearer's performance, allowing them to perform their duties while in Mission Oriented Protective Posture 4," said Sergeant Garcia.