[Renee4christ]

Just wanted to find out from all of you who have lived through it? How long do you have to stay in there? I saw a couple of videos on youtube and it was hard to watch at some points....

[TRINI_RN]

When I went we were in ranks and each rank had to remove their masks and recite their ssn and the Sailor's creed. Myself and the rest of the "division front" got the honor of going last and having a whole "cake" to ourselves, we also stayed in longer than the others. It sucks pretty bad, but then it's over and you move on. Good Luck.

[newmeafter45]

Hello Renee4christ:

I just thru the chamber 1 wk ago and let me tell you it SUCKS. My advise be one of the first in the chamber because what happens if you are toward the end there is more concentrated gas in the chamber and the reaction will be worst. Let me see if I can expalin how it feels. At first you line up toward the back of the building so others cannot see you, then they tell you to put the mask mon, then he makes you do 20 jumping jacks because this will make you breath deeper and in turn you will inhale more gas because now you are out of breath. He tells the first 10 people to enter the chamber and asks you if you are OK and to move your head up and down and side to side this is to check the seal of the mask. He then tells you to grab the bottom of the mask and pull forward so that you can get a very little amount of gas and he then tells you to put it back on but at this time you are starting to cough because it makes you feel like you are chocking. He does this a second time. Finally he tells you to line up facing the front of the door and one by one you remove your mask and must say your SS# by this time you want to run him over and run toward the door (that is what I did) dont' do it you have to do it again. You will be coughing like crazy, your eyes will be watering, and really attempting to breath. It will take several minutes to go away. Please do not rub faces, eyes with your hands. My advise is to have someone on the other side with baby wipes to clean you face. I found it very helpfull and sudding. I hope I did not scare you. It was not so bad I think not knowing was the worst for us. Be one of the first and it won't be so bad. There is a video in you tube called Army OBLC gas chamber 2007 it was part of the last class. Person talking was one of the instructors. Good luck. Hope it helped. I have three weeks left at OBLC. So if you have questions please ask.

[Rme4life]

it sucks. i've gone through 4 times and it sucks every time. anyone who says otherwise is full of it. i've also been pepper sprayed in the eyes before and the gas chamber was worse. all i can say is stay calm.

[Renee4christ]

why did you have to go through 4 times?

[Rme4life]

I used to be enlisted, you have annual training. I have went through more than that, but have only had to take my mask off 4 times, basic, 2x in training and oblc.

[crazylilkelly]

LOL, I LOVE the gas chamber!!!! I was always one of the few to volunteer to go in when we were just testing gas masks. It's definitely not a fuzzy, warm feeling....but I get some wierd high off of doing something so nutty like that!!! I get taht ooooh-rahh, get some attitude when i do it. then again, i love all types of combat training in general. ps---i wasn't the only wierdo that liked the gas chamber

[ZASHAGALKA]

My allergies were KILLING me when I had to go through. I came out, coughed up half a lung, and WOW! All that accumulated post-nasal drip - just gone.

I highly recommend it as therapy for seasonal allergies.

I distinctly remember going to bed that night and thinking: cool beans! I can breathe.

~faith,
Timothy.

[nursekatie22]

Hold on a minute! It says on the U.S. Army site that medical personnel don't have to do basic training. They just have to attend certain classes and pass the physical fitness test that the enlisted folks do. You really have to do all that other stuff??

[psalm]

Do not have kleenex in your pocket or tampons/sanitary stuff in your pockets...and if you do, DO NOT USE it after being in the chamber!! Seriously!