So first off, lets talk about what OC is. "Pepper spray, also known as OC spray (from "oleoresin capsicum"), OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent (a chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and temporary blindness) used in policing, riot control, crowd control, and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears.[1][2] Its inflammatory effects cause the eyes to close, taking away vision. This temporary blindness allows officers to more easily restrain subjects and permits people using pepper spray for self-defense an opportunity to escape." (wikipedia).
Navy service members are required to be sprayed if they are ever to carry OC on a topside force protection watch. The reasoning behind it is if we accidentally get sprayed ourselves from blowback by the wind or a misfire, we have to be able to defend ourselves in that situation. You would only draw a non-lethal weapon if the person is being non-compliant and aggressive (without a weapon). To me personally, the reasoning kind of makes sense, but we don't shoot ourselves with a pistol to know how to fight in case we misfire that. We don't train against a knife attack in case one is drawn. To me it seems like a pointless training exam that is required each year. Yes that is right, every year you are required to get re-certified. The first time you do it you get a Level 1 Spray. Every time after that you get Level 2. Level 1 is much worse, you get sprayed from a distance of 3 feet from ear to ear across the forehead. That way it runs down your face and neck is a very strong dose. For Level 2, they put some on a sponge and dab above your eyebrows. I personally haven't done Level 2 but I watched the people who did it and it didn't look nearly as bad. Yes they complained it burned and you could tell they were distressed, but when a level 1 does it... well we will get to that.
So I took a week of SRF-B training, basically force protection training. They teach you take down techniques to use in a situation where someone is non compliant, they teach you weapons handling and general force protection and anti terrorism principles. Most of it is by power point but there are 2 days of take down and hand to hand training, and a couple weapons handling demonstrations. The hardest part of the class is defiantly the OC spray day. When the day arrives you all muster at a designate place. Since I was out to sea when I did it, it was on the flight deck. There were 5 stations which you had to complete after being sprayed.
I really wanted to go first to get it over with and not get myself hyped up for the pain. I also wanted the most time to decontaminate to get back to normal. Well another officer had to go on watch in about 3 hours so she had to go first. I wanted to go second, so I was her battle buddy. Basically that means I walked about 5 feet away from her making sure she was safe, and cheering her on to and reminding her what she needed to do in the pain. She was doing a level two, so she starts off and complains it burns but overall doesn't seem that out of the normal. She gets more and more agitated as it goes but she keeps her head and finishes just fine. I come back to the start line expecting to go second, but they gave my chief (who was supposed to go third) the knee pads to go next, since I was following the first person around at the time. So I grab another pair of knee pads and put them on quickly and follow my chief around as her battle buddy too.
My chief was a level one spray. She gets sprayed and immediately bends over a little and shakes her head. Walks a bit forward and shakes her head again. You can tell she is in a lot of pain, and can't see. She was walking blindly forward and kept bending over and shaking her head. She starts the first station which is where you have to do a take down on a non compliant person. She starts it but then stops and walks a few steps away and puts her hands up as if she needs a break. She takes a second, as we all cheer her on, and she goes back to do the take down. You can hear it in her voice that it hurts but she gets it done.
Next she walks slowly over to the next station: Use the baton to force back someone with a punching mat. She does that pretty well and continues on. The next station is fighting off two people (one in front, one behind) with the baton. You are supposed to use specific strikes and yell "Get back!" with each strike. The purpose of the "Get back!" is to provide verbal direction to the attacker as well as make sure you are breathing during the event. She is still in a lot of pain and you can tell she is getting tired but gets through that event too. Next is the Baton blocks. You block a baton strike with your own baton (keep in mind the batons are foam padded) as they yell out high, low, strong side, or weak side. It takes a little more concentration but she gets through. The final station is the hardest. There is a guy dressed out in a big red protection suit. He tries to slowly come at you and take your baton. You have to fight him back and show how to get out of a baton grab by the attacker. Then you have to take him down to finish it off. Well she gets it done and now its my turn.
I was all ready to go after seeing the first person on level 2 go, thinking it wouldn't be that bad. But after seeing my chief really struggle through the pain I start to second guess. Either way I step up ready to go as number 3. I turn around give them the thumbs up and close my eyes and mouth. They spray me, and I feel the cold liquid across my forehead. I open my eyes and tell him how many fingers he is holding up. At first I was thinking, ah its not that bad. But then I took a breath and it hit my nose and eyes at the same time. The burn engulfs my face and eyes. It feels as if you are REALLY sunburned and someone is taking a piece of coarse grip sandpaper to your face. Your eyes are very sensitive to light and it feels like the burn when you have your eyes in smoke when they are open. Not to mention the liquid is dripping in them after they open, making it burn worse.
I guess at that moment I found out if I was a fight or flight person being OC sprayed. You are supposed to walk up to the person (and everyone else did) and then take him down. I apparently did some sort of boxing style arm pump in front of me and then rushed the guy yelling fiercely "Get down!" I got in position and forced him to the ground in the spin VERY quickly, pulling myself down too. They told me to get up and do it slower, and make sure I keep my balance. They said it was for both of our safety that I slow down, but that they liked my enthusiasm. Well I got up, did it again slower, and then finished the take down. When they are the ground you have to yell at them "Turn your head away from the sound of my voice! Put your hand out palm up. Cross your legs, cross them again. Bring you feet to your rear. Bring your hand to the small of your back." Then you bring the other arm you are holding and put it on top of the other hand to hand cuff them.
First station down and it SUCKS. I keep my eyes closed most of the time, blinking them open about once a second to get my bearings as I go to the next station. I fight my way through the remaining stations getting more and more tired of the pain and from the constriction on my lungs. The OC spray has a chemical reaction where it forces you to constrict your airway from the mucus build up and it becomes harder to breathe. They have medical personnel around at all times for our safety though. Anyways after I finish the event I go over to the "decon station". Which is basically a guy with a bag of paper towels and dish soap and a hose. I dab my forehead with a paper towel then cover my face in dish soap. The pain is momentarily gone, but a few seconds later comes back...
I will continue with Part 2 of OC spray, I have to go eat dinner now.
Being OC Sprayed in the Navy - Part 2
Fajnie napisane :)
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