Mission-oriented protective posture levels

MOPP - mission-oriented protective posture, level 4. 

MOPP Mission-Oriented Protective Posture, the protective clothing used by members of the U.S. military who engage in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare. MOPP gear provides a flexible system requiring personnel to wear only that protective clothing and equipment appropriate to the threat level, work rate imposed by the mission, temperature, and humidity. 

Mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP)-level TTPs are, in the committee s view, insufficiently flexible to permit continued operations in a dirty environment. Commanders should be provided with a wider array of protective equipment materiel and operational options. It is recommended that NWDC undertake a review of MOPP-level standards and definitions specifically to establish a mask-only condition (currently the mask is donned only at MOPP levels three and four (after the outer garment and boots)). It is equally important to provide local commanders with guidance on when to select one protection option rather than the others. It is noted that both Army and CBIRF doctrine allow employment of a mask-only posture in certain circumstances. 

Table 3-1. Mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP) levels.

Protective Posture. What was the level of mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP) Was there face mask or suit damage Did the face mask fit adequately When was the filter changed How well trained was the soldier in using the appropriate protective posture, in making clinical observations, and in choosing appropriate therapy Were other factors present (eg, consumption of alcoholic beverages, exposure to other chemicals, psychiatric status) ... 

Fig. 16-12. From left to right, the soldiers gear is for mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP) levels 2, 3, and 4. Photograph Courtesy of Visual Information Division, US Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Because of these factors, the completeness of protection is stratified by the anticipated magnitude of the threat from chemical-biological agents that is, the mission-oriented protective posture (Figure 16-12). Five MOPP levels have been recognized previously, but with Change 2 to Field Manual 3-4, NBC Protection, the number was updated to seven in 1996 (Exhibit 16-1).5 The two new MOPP levels are MOPP Ready and Mask-Only Command, but readers should be aware that MOPP levels are revised frequently to meet newly defined needs. 

LEVELS OF MISSION ORIENTED PROTECTIVE POSTURE (MOPP)... 

In 1966 the Molded NBC cap for the 1 and 2-quait canteen (Mil-C-51278,8465-01-118-8171) was introduced in the Army inventory to allow soldiers to connect a tube from the canteen to the gas mask for hydration while wearing a mask and various protection levels of MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) gear. The MOPP gear was the protective equipment developed for use in a nuelear/ biological/chemical contaminated environment. 

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