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Soldiers from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 7th Civil Support Command’s 773rd Civil Support Team, hosted Bulgarian army soldiers to demonstrate the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear assets available to the 773rd CST, and to promote a partnership between the two countries May 14 to 18.
“The 773rd CST is supporting the European Command’s Theater Cooperation Program by building partner capacity with the nations that we interact with, Bulgaria being one of these,” said Lt. Col. Leslie M. Dillard, 773rd CST commander. “I am honored that we were chosen to host the Bulgarian contingent. It’s an opportunity for the 773rd, as the only CBRN asset in the EUCOM area of responsibility, to share our knowledge with a sister battalion.”
Supporting the 773rd CST training were members of the 196th Medical Support Unit, 7th CSC, along with the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s Fire Department.
During the event, the Bulgarian CBRN Soldiers learned how to sample an agent, conduct decontamination operations, analyzesamples, and how to wear the self-contained breathing apparatus along with several other training lanes. The 773rd CST mentorship assisted in the Bulgarian Army’s development of a new CBRN doctrine according to NATO standards.
“We are here to learn what the 773rd has to offer in CBRN and see if we can take some of the experiences back to our country along with some of the techniques that they use,” said Bulgarian army Sgt. Peter Evgeniev Dzhongov, a chemical sergeant with Company 1 CBRN, 38th CBRN Battalion. “I think this training is amazing. The equipment that I have seen here is so up-to-date and clean, and the Soldiers of the 773rd CST have been extremely nice to all of us in the unit.”
After several hours of classroom learning about how the 773rd CST conducts operations, the Bulgarian soldiers were able to participate and learn first hand about the different types of equipment that are available to the 773rd CST.
“This is a new and exciting chapter for the 773rd CST’s relationship in working with the Bulgarians,” said Cpl. Eric J. Song, a survey team member with the 773rd CST. “Because our job is based on saving lives, it is a privilege that we have an opportunity to work with other countries and assist in improving their CBRN operations.”
“This cultural and informational exchange has been a phenomenal experience for the Soldiers of the 773rd CST, and we look forward to additional training opportunities with our Bulgarian partners,” Dillard said.
