JSDF NBC unit monitoring personnel at Fukushima Daiichi

Japanese Self Defense Forces Combat Nuclear Biological Chemical monitoring teams have been monitoring radiation levels to help protect workers fighting the nuclear disaster.

The military NBC units have been using lead suits, that weigh 48 pounds, and special armored cars that are equipped with NBC monitoring gear.  They are trying to make sure workers are rotated in and out of the plant for short time periods because of high radiation levels.

Most developed countries have NBC units in their military. Mainly because they also have WMDs, and have planned for their use on the battlefield.  Military NBC units can be used in a secondary role in case of something like what is happening in Japan.  I hope budget cutting here in the U.S. hasn’t affected our military NBC units.