I had completed my SRF-B class several months previous but had been unable to go through the final trial due to the start of my damage control locker leader classes. The last evolution was being sprayed in the face with OC spray. You may not be all that familiar with the military term for this spray so I will refer to it as "pepper spray" from now on.
One of the chiefs and a large part of the crew had been eagerly anticipating this for a while. Back in the states, it is common to see military sentries carry pepper spray. The theory is that we need to experience the pain that comes with using the spray. Of course if I follow that logic, since sentries are also equipped with batons, does that not mean we need to be hit with them as well? Every sentry carries a loaded firearm too.
All the participants left the ship after lunch time and went across the base to an isolated field so we would not hit any bystanders by accident. I ended up being the last one sprayed since I needed to be present for a general quarters drill before I could leave the ship. I escorted the second to last person around the course after he was sprayed so I would know where to go when I was sprayed next. Then it was my turn.
I stood with my back to the Chief holding the spray can with my eyes closed and upon his call performed an about face. With my eyes still closed, he sprayed a cloud over my forehead and eyes. Then I was told to open my eyes a wait a second. The pepper spray has a delayed reaction, it takes a second or two before the nerves in the eye react. Then the pain becomes excruciating and you have no choice but to shut your eyes again. I had to wait until I could open my eyes to see how many fingers Chief was holding up and then start the course.
The first obstacle was a person holding a punching bag which needed to be punched and kneed. After a minute, a take down using pressure points was then required before moving on. Pressure points are painful even in practice and mock situations. I then grabbed a padded baton before arriving at the next station. At this point I was between two punching bags held by people. I used both ends of the baton to hit the punching bags on either side. Then I moved on to the last station which required me to block incoming blows by deflecting them with the baton in guard positions. Then I was told to conduct another take down and run back to the start line.
This was only the beginning of the pain because pepper spray sticks to skin, there is no easy way to get it off. Even after washing my face off in a hose, I endured reflash after reflash trying to get the pepper out of my eyes. All I could do was face into the wind, which luckily was fairly strong that day, and try to open my eyes as long as possible. This allowed my tears a small window to flush out the peppers a little at a time. Keep in mind the pepper is getting into my nose and mouth. My nose was constantly running while I am choking and still trying to open my eyes.
After about an hour I was taken back to the ship with only minor pain still lingering. I stuck my face in front of a fan for about another hour while my forehead cooled down. Now at this point most people consider the experience to be over but the pepper spray has one more nasty surprise. Eventually you have to take a shower to get the remaining spray off your forehead and eyelids. I was warned about this, I did not use any soap or try to scrub my forehead. I still had a bad reflash for the next half hour after the shower. The following day I had another reflash in one eye during a Navigation brief.
Pepper spray is really nasty stuff. At least I can check that off as been there done that now. I do not have quite as much of a fear of it now. Some of the Officers and Chiefs have been sprayed so often, it is a yearly requirement for the ship's reaction force, they are becoming almost immune to it.
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