PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-703
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 703
JUNE 2011
26
PS 703
JUN 11
PS 703
Dear Editor,
The M20/M20A1 collective
protection equipment is a self-contained,
pressurized room that allows Soldiers to
operate without protective clothing in a
chemical threat environment.
Usually each battalion has four M20/
M20A1s. At about $18,000 each, they
are not cheap items.
But in my experience on the Command
Maintenance Evaluation and Training
Team (COMET), I find that the M20/
M20A1s are generally completely
overlooked. They are stored away from
from the CBRN rooms in the operations/
plans shop where usually no one pays
any attention to them. They end up just
collecting dust.
If they are ever needed, the M20/
M20A1s won’t be in any shape for
action and no one will know how to use
them.
I suggest that every battalion appoint
someone to be specifically in charge
of the M20/M20A1s, including taking
responsibility for their regular PMCS.
Room needs to be made in the training
schedule to teach Soldiers how to use
it, too.
The first step should be to order
copies of the M20/M20A1’s TMs. The
M20 TM is TM 3-4240-288-12&P
and the M20A1’s is TM 3-4240-313-
10 and TM 3-4240-313-20&P. The
TMs are on the ETM site:
etms/online.cfm
John Palmer
COMET
Editor’s note:
Thanks for alerting units to
the importance of taking care of the M20/
M20A1, John. It’s an expensive piece of
equipment to become just a dust collector.
Too Often Forgotten
M20/M20A1 Collective Protection Equipment…
Too Often Forgotten
don’t
let your
m20 collective
protection
equipment become
something that
just takes up
space.
Hello, Soldier!
I’m
Half-Mast McCanick.
I must be the oldest master sergeant
in the Army. Been an E-8 since mid-World
War II and spent those war years
with
Army Motors
magazine answering
questions about vehicle maintenance.
in June 1951, the Army recalled me to
duty with a new pub,
PS Magazine.
Our job was to encourage Soldiers
to perform preventive maintenance.
it’s been 60 years and I still ask
Soldiers the same question:
“Would You Stake Your Life
–
RiGHT NOW
– on the Condition of
Your Equipment?”
And, that’s the bottom line.
Will your equipment work, like it’s
supposed to, when you need it most?
if you haven’t maintained it, someday
it won’t. Preventive maintenance is a
way of maintaining the best equipment
readiness rates we can. But, how you
care for your vehicle, weapon and
other equipment and gear is also a
measure of how that equipment will
support your health and life.
The next seven pages are about our
past and present, and how you can
influence the magazine’s future in
providing you with the most up-to-
date maintenance and supply infor-
mation available. We welcome your
comments and suggestions.
take care of it,
train with it,
use it!
703.26-27.indd
1-2
5/13/11
1:44 PM
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