FORT A.P. HILL, Va. - “It brings all the soldiers with different MOSs together to work as a team,” said Pvt. Jonathan M. Jenkins, a Petroleum Lab Specialist with the 653rd Area Support Group, Farrell, Pa.
Service members from 64 units across the continental United States participated in the annual Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise during the first three weeks of June 2014. QLLEX was conducted at eight locations across the country. For soldiers who participated in QLLEX at Fort A. P. Hill, Va., the exercise presented an opportunity to become more proficient in their military occupational specialty or “MOS.”
“I think it does help a lot. If there is a natural disaster, we have to be able to get fuel to different parts of the country to help citizens,” said Army Pfc. Matthew R. Casey, a Unit Supply Specialist with the 475th Quartermaster Group, Farrell, Pa. “It relates to real life situations.”
“Soldiers and units work together to accomplish the fuel and water mission,” said Casey, who is participating in his second QLLEX.
Approximately 479,000 gallons of water and 3.25 million gallons of petroleum were transported during the exercise.
Soldiers tested fuel to make sure it was not going to freeze at certain altitudes or ignite at certain temperatures.
“QLLEX makes sure people know the fundamentals of how to do their job properly. If there is an oil spill, we need to know how to quarantine it,” said Spc. Victor R. Morales, a Motor Transport Operator with the 325th Transportation Company, Danbury, Conn.
In addition to gaining experience with spill kits, the motor transport operators gain experience driving with a full load of fuel in their trucks.
“We get to drive with a really heavy load. We usually train with an empty load,” said Spc. Kerek D. Walker, another Motor Transport Operator with the 325th Transportation Company.
“The empty tank bounces and the fuel can push you, especially going downhill,” added Morales.
Spc. Alexander M. Pudvah, a Water Purification Specialist with the 326th Quartermaster Company, New Castle, Pa., said that his unit only gets to practice reverse purification without the use of chemicals during drill each month. However, during QLLEX, Pudvah was able to purify water to make it drinkable.
“I like that we actually get to do our job,” said Pudvah. “It’s really fun.”
While QLLEX provided an opportunity for soldiers to receive hands-on training to sharpen their MOS skills, they also got to work with service members from other parts of the country and have fun while doing it.
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2014 17:52 |
| Story ID: | 133717 |
| Location: | FORT A.P. HILL, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldiers strengthen skills, by SGT Nicole Paese, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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