The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity (CMA) Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate (RCMD) provides centralized management and direction to the Department of Defense for the assessment and disposal of recovered chemical warfare materiel (RCWM) in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
RCMD leads the nation in the development and utilization of advanced technology to destroy RCWM. In 1997, the United States entered into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty requiring the destruction of chemical weapons.
In support of the CWC, RCMD maintains technology and personnel expertise to continue to destroy RCWM around the country.
RCMD personnel and equipment provide:
- Tools, tactics and technologies to strengthen the Soldier’s knowledge base in the assessment and treatment of chemical warfare materiel (CWM)
- Proven, transportable assessment technologies to quickly respond to planned and unplanned CWM recoveries on site, most often in response to CWM unearthed during range-clearing operations and from relic burial sites
- On-site destruction of RCWM using proven technologies that safely and effectively neutralize chemical warfare materiel while protecting operators, the community and the environment
