Ramstein Airmen improve training, effectiveness with new M-50 mask

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amanda Dick
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --  Airmen at Ramstein Air Base will see a new change in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training with the use of the new M-50 Joint Service General Purpose Mask and Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology, effective immediately.

"The new masks are joint service; they'll be used by the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy," said Airman 1st Class Michael Balbaugh, a 886th Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency management apprentice. "They've got improvement over the MCU-2 masks that were previously used. They're lighter weight, easier to wear and provide more protection on their own than the MCU-2 masks do."

Besides being lighter in weight, there are several upgrades with the M-50 mask.

"The mask has 23 percent more visibility than the previous mask," Airman Balbaugh said. "For people who wear glasses, inserts will be placed directly inside the mask rather than wrapped around the head and are a lot more manageable."

The M-50 also has another major difference; it has two filters as opposed to the one canister filter on the MCU-2 mask.

"They are interchangeable," Airman Balbaugh said. "So, if you're in a hot environment and you need to swap out a filter because you suspect it's contaminated, you can take one filter off at a time and swap them inside the environment if you have to. These new filters rotate to lock in place, and the mask itself has two self-sealing valves that will not allow anything in when you don't have filters on."

The new mask also has a redesigned head harness that allows for a better seal around the face.

According to Airman Balbaugh, the middle straps lock into place, and the top straps Velcro in place, needing a partner to help fit the mask to each person. Once the mask is fit, the only straps needing to be adjusted to take the mask on and off are the bottom straps.

"This can provide more protection, as the other two straps will not move, meaning the seal you get on the mask more than likely will be better," he said.
 
"The purpose of training with the new mask is to make sure when people go downrange they are familiar with the new mask, and they know how to operate and wear it properly, as well as wear the newly required suit properly, in case they have the need to wear the gear when downrange," said Airman Balbaugh.

According to Airman Balbaugh, the training is important as it effects the missions of all military branches while downrange.

"If people are incapacitated by a chemical, nerve or blister agent, they are unable to continue the mission, and overall mission effectiveness will suffer," he said. "We teach people to be able to wear their gear correctly, so they can become familiar with it and be comfortable operating with it. This way if they ever have to use it in a CBRN environment, they're used to it, know what it feels like and can wear the gear properly and safely to continue through the mission."

Currently, individual protective equipment is only issuing the new mask to those attending CBRN training or deploying, according to Master Sgt. Mark Noll, 86th LRS IPE NCO in charge.

The masks also come with a newer carrying case that has an extra flap to protect the mask from sand, dirt or debris while being stored when not in use.

Airmen stationed in South Korea were the first to receive the new masks in 2008.