Tear gas chamber @ Navy boot camp?

Question

I know that every branch of the military must go through the tear gas chamber but I have heard different techniques for this activity.

In a video I saw on the ARMY, it seems as though they enter, do jumping jacks, then the drill sargent talks to them, then someone taps them on the shoulder. They take off their mask, say their information, then put their mask back on. As they are leaving the room, they are instructed to remove their masks again as the leave.

I read this about the NAVY:
Inside the Chamber, you and about 100 other recruits will line up, and put on a gas mask while a tear gas bomb is lit. You'll be ordered to remove your mask and put it in the trash can, while reciting your full name and social security number. (Do you walk out afterwards like in the ARMY or remain in the room w/out mask on?)

Any tips on how to have "survive" this ordeal (other than PAY ATTENTION TO ALL INSTRUCTIONS.)

This is honest-to-God my only fear of boot camp...fear of the unknown....

Please don't tell me that it won't harm or kill me. I already know that!!!

BTW, I have already joined the Navy, I am a DEP recruit. Leaving Feb '08.

Thanks lisab for adding the whole "to eat, or not to eat" part. I had forgotten to ask that.

As for my fear statement...I am not scared of "all unknown" but like somebody telling you that you will be subject to a gas that you have never come in contact with in your life is kinda nerve wrecking...I mean, at least I thought it was to normal people...

Answer 1

The best advice I would give is DON'T RUB YOUR EYES!!!

When I went in the chamber, our company did it in groups of about 20. Once we got in we lined up in 2 rows, they turrned on the gas, and we had to don our mask. When the comp. comm. came to me I had to take off the mask, give her my name and something else (not sure about the SS#), then don my mask again. You don't leave the room until all recruits have done the same.

Your first reaction will be to try to wipe your nose and your eyes.....it's DISGUSTING (ha, just wait!!!)....you think your eyes will never stop burning and tearing....but if you wipe at them it makes it worse. And if you thought you've ever had a "runny nose" in the past??? Oh man, no runny nose compares to what you get in the gas chamber! But like I said, don't try to wipe it away, it'll only make it worse.

The other piece of advice is to not get too hyped up about it. I know it's hard not to, but the last thing you want to do is go in there anxious, breathing heavy, and possibly messing up with donning your mask. You have to be able to show them that you can don it properly and if you're all worked up it makes it that much harder.

Good luck (and great decision, by the way!)

Answer 2

Much ado over nothing, the gas mask test in boot camp it just no big deal. I went to boot camp on Orlando FL and our company lined up by the chamber and they took 25 or so at a time in, you put the mask on before entering and checked it, then go in, they close the door, but it is well lit so far so good.

The trainer then lit off the tear gas while talking about the importance of your gas mask, and then he asked for a show of hands of people who thought it was not doing anything, and of course there is always one idiot to raise their hand. We where all ordered to take our masks off and a made a couple guys recite general orders then did a sound-off of everyone (yelling out sequential numbers one at a time) this made sure everyone breathed some.

As soon as the mask came off it hit, the first thing you feel is your skin get warm, then you start tearing to where it is hard to see and finally you are so stuffed up that your nose started to run pretty good. The only thing I would say was truly uncomfortable was the stinging in the eyes, it was about the same as getting a little shampoo in your eyes.

I have always had slightly stuffed sinuses, and I this was the only time in my entire life that my sinuses were truly clear :)

I disagree in thinking of this as a "challenge", it is not like you can fail or anything, lol, think it like an adventure and an accomplishment not everyone has a chance to try.

Tips:
- Do not rub your eyes
- Don't put on skin conditioners or oils of any kind that day, it will mix with it and stick.
- Skip shaving if you can get away with it if your time is before say noon. It lets it get into the follicle hole and burns more, my face where I had shaves stung more than unshaved parts.
- You don't have to worry what you eat that day, it is not nearly strong enough to make you sick.
- When you see everyone crying in the videos, they are not in pain crying, they are just tearing.
- Most of all, have a blast, it is one of the many rights of passage into becoming a sailor

Remember -- The Navy -- It's not just a job, it's and Adventure :))

Answer 3

Boot Camp Navy

Answer 4

The Air Force way is you enter the chamber and they make you do some jumping jacks to get your heart rate up so that that when you take your protective mask off, you'll have to breathe in and take a breath.
They will know if you are faking or not b/c you pretty much can't talk, if you take a deep breath. It's not a big deal, you really don't feel it when you breath in, but when you try to talk, it's kind of funny b/c you can't talk. It's like you are choking but you really aren't.

Have fun, just make sure you blow your nose before you put on your mask, b/c snot will be flowing out your nose when you are done.

Take it easy

Answer 5

Well I guess I was one unlucky sailor. The time the company went into the gas chamber was the same time of Captains Meritorious Mast. I was academic award winner in the company so instead of the gas chamber I was in Dress Blues getting my award from the Captain of RTC. I talked to the guys after and they said the same things that have mentioned before, burning eye and runny noise.
I did go through something that other guys said was worse then the gas chamber. I went to fire fighting school in Charleston, SC when were were in the yards. In order to show how the OBA, Oxygen Breathing Apparatus, worked They took us into a chamber that was filled with smoke from burning oily rags. Before we went in we were told to hold the D-ring on the back of the guy in front of you. The smoke was so thick and black you could not see a thing. After we were in there a while they wanted to show us how well the OBA worked, so were told to take the mask off. After a little they lead us out. We came out with burning eyes and coughing our lungs out. I know I coughed for more then 5 minutes.
And if that was not bad enough. We all had our chance to be at the head of a fire hose holding the nozzle and go into a compartment fully ablaze with burning oil to beat down the fire. There is nothing more terrifying then fire.
Just something else you may run into in the Navy.

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Answer 7

Not wiping your eyes and washing your hands ASAP is good advice.

Don't get yourself all worked up about it - you'll get through it and you'll be able to tell "horror" stories to the recruits behind you who haven't done it yet.

Just look at it as a challenge to be conquered. I've been away from the military for many years and now that I've reached an age where I can't go back, I've been reflecting on my service. You're going to experience many, many things that the average American has no concept of - some of them unpleasant. One day you'll realize how many people go through life with only the most trivial concerns or challenges. That's why so many veterans seem to have a rapport despite innumerable apparant differences.

Meet every challenge head on and enjoy your time in uniform.

Answer 8

The thing with the Gas Chamber is...it's not really to make you breath in gas...it is to show you that your Protective Mask works so you will not second guess when you have to put it on for real...you walk in with the gas in the room...then you take off your mask and say your SSN, Name and Rank...the Drill messes with you for a few minutes, then they let you out and you have to do the "Chicken Run"...(Running while flapping your arms)...it wasn't that bad...I actually had to do it again back in 02...I joined in 91...but like the guy said above, it does clean those sinuses out...I had a cold when I went in, it was gone that afternoon...

Answer 9

I did the Army one at it wasn't that bad. The best thing to do is try to be first one in, first one out. Stay calm and control your breathing. You usually don't stay in there but for a few minutes though it seems like eternity.
The good part is if you have sinuses they will be cleaned out.

Just to add you may hear rumors that it is better to eat or not eat. It is totally up to how sensitive you are to the gas. Not many throw up and if they do it is more from nerves and mucus going down your throat. I ate and didin't throw up.

Answer 10

When I went through RTC Great Lakes We all filed into the chamber, about 80 of us. The canister was lit. Then, one column at a time was told to remove their mask and walk to the door. At the door you had to give your name and social. Your name was check off the list and you walked out the door.

I don't know exactly how long it took but my guess is two minutes tops from the time we removed our mask until we were out the door. It just seems like a long time.

Just think of it as a right of passage. Anybody with the guts to enlist right now will have no problems once they get to that point in training.

Thank you for your service and best of luck in your career.