Honestly, how bad is the gas chamber?

LLLovely, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2008

Actually, the ugly goggle glasses don't go under the mask either. There are prescription inserts for the mask itself for those who require corrective lenses for anything other than reading.

The military still issues the ugly giant frame glasses of old, but they now have a program called "frame of choice." At each eye exam, if you require a new prescription, you are authorized a free pair of frame glasses in a civilian contemporary style of your choice. Of course, the selection is limited, but they are pretty normal. You also get issued two pairs of the ugly glasses and the goggle-style glasses and a pair of mask inserts. They are all free.

When you are in garrison, as in NOT deployed or in the field, you can wear the frame of choice issued to you or civilian glasses that you pay for yourself if they meet military standards. Generally, the standards are that they must be the right size for your face, not faddish or extreme, not mirrored lenses, and no writing or logos on them. The same is true for sunglasses.

I've been in the military for a long time and I have only been in the chamber twice. There is no formal requirement to do it annually or on any other specific timeline, at least not in my branch of service. It burns and you spill snot everywhere, but even in basic training they are pretty nice to you when you are in the chamber because it hurts and it is difficult to follow directions when you are thinking that your lungs are burning. It's over relatively quickly. Definitely do not wear your contacts!

And, chamber or not, keep your tissues and tampons and the like sealed tightly in a ziploc bag. In fact, make friends with ziplocs now. Those and baby wipes will save your life.

Lastly, I don't know how long the field problem is at OBLC, but in my experience, it is better not to shower in the field at all. Use the baby wipes and your canteen or CamelBak for basic hygiene. Showering is so hard because you have to go to great lengths to get privacy and it is like trying to shower at the little hut at the beach. As soon as you are done, you have sand everywhere again and you're already sweating before you have clean clothes on. It always just made me feel worse. The max I've ever gone without a shower is 12 days and it wasn't as bad as all that because everyone is dirty. You don't notice the smell until you get back and smell a clean person and by then you're on the way to the shower anyway.

Atheos · Jun 1, 2008

Friendly? Lol they kept us in until everyone took off their mask. Of course one guy wouldn't so after about 1 and a half minutes we beat the bejesus out of him and ripped his mask off. Then they made us do pt and do all sorts of silly stuff. Then when they let us run out no one informed us that a tree was 4 feet in front of the door so we all ran into the tree or got trampled.

Friendly indeed...

olderthandirt2 · Jun 1, 2008

that is funny as heck.

cb

LLLovely, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2008

Friendly? Lol they kept us in until everyone took off their mask. Of course one guy wouldn't so after about 1 and a half minutes we beat the bejesus out of him and ripped his mask off. Then they made us do pt and do all sorts of silly stuff. Then when they let us run out no one informed us that a tree was 4 feet in front of the door so we all ran into the tree or got trampled.
Friendly indeed...

Oy! You were infantry or some other combat arms branch I presume?

I guess this is another example of how experiences vary. I suppose it could still be summed up by saying that it doesn't last all that long.

Atheos · Jun 5, 2008

Oy! You were infantry or some other combat arms branch I presume?
I guess this is another example of how experiences vary. I suppose it could still be summed up by saying that it doesn't last all that long.

Nope. Was a 98G. Cryptologic Linguist. Intel. However, all my friends that stayed in have all been attached to infantry units and are pretty much infantry in Iraq.