WASHINGTON — As we get ready for the Army-Navy game here in the DMV, one of the service branches gave people in D.C. a look inside the ranks.
On Friday, the Army took over a section of the National Mall to show off some of its careers and technology.
“It’s like an Army open house, so you can come crawl around the equipment and check it out and interact with soldiers that do this every day for a living and kind of learn more about it,” Army Captain Frankie Turner explained.
WUSA9 took the tour and got a look inside.
Capt. Turner showed off the chemical, biological, and radioactive mobile labs. Inside the portable building, a Lieutenant Colonel explained its combat role.
“Our mission is to detect and analyze samples that could be toxic chemicals,” explained. “It could be chemical warfare agents for example.”
One side of the lab looks at potential chemicals, and the other looks at other biological issues. The lab can detect and analyze everything from anthrax to COVID in the field.
“So we could advise the theater commander to a quick ‘yes’ or ‘no’- as in: ‘Is this dangerous? What is the threat level? Can we move troops through this?’” he explained.
Over at another area, the Army showcased its explosive ordinance division. There soldiers train to recognize and disable explosives, but they also work with the latest technology to do it safely.
On a weekend when America’s oldest services academies face off on the mall, the Army won the chance to show off.