CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Service members from the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps are working together during the Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise, here.
QLLEX 2014 is a joint forces annual training opportunity at eight locations across the continental United States, where 64 units will deliver more than 3.25 million gallons of petroleum and produce 479,000 gallons of water. The exercise is designed to provide a realistic working environment for troops, as well as challenge and develop the battalion's staff military decision making skills. Concurrent operations are also being conducted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, from June 8 and scheduled to end on June 19.
Participation by different branches of the military in a scenario-based exercise creates an atmosphere where troops and units must work together towards a common objective. This multi-faceted operation mimics procedures in place while deployed.
“The Marines are here to support the Army. We brought bull-dozers and were able to clear an area for the Army to use for their motor pool,” said US Marine Corps Sgt. Evan Garvey, Bulk Fuel Specialist, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, “I had worked with Soldiers while on a deployment but never at a training exercise.”
The advantage of working together during training is to learn how to effectively help each other complete missions during the training and more importantly while down range, said Garvey.
“I am learning how to test fuel for impurities from Army Soldiers. I usually only receive and distribute fuel,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew R. Buntin. “Working with different branches isn’t too much different. The military is the military and we all have the same standard operating procedures, but there are some differences in equipment.”
QLLEX is an exercise run by the Army, and therefore the Army provides some of the more basic yet vital support for all the troops involved. The 137th Quartermaster Company, South El Monte, California, set up shower tents and laundry services.
“Our Laundry Advanced System has two drums that can both wash and dry and operates with water held in its own water tank. The shower tents have 12 shower heads in each tent, one for males and one for females,” said Cpl. Scott Rogers, Shower/Laundry and Clothing Repair Specialist. Rogers is originally from Palm Springs, California.
A dental services station run by Navy corpsmen is also available to troops during the exercise.
“We provide dental treatments, including fillings, cleanings, exams and X-rays,” said HM2 Jonathan Simpson, 4th Dental Battalion, 24th Dental Company.
“We provide an opportunity for Marines to get care and increase their readiness for deployment,” said HM2 Estella Rodriguez.
Readiness for deployment is really what training is all about, and training with different branches is the most realistic and beneficial.
“A few times the Army has called asking for a certain vehicle and we were able to provide them with it, and in return they help us out when we need it. Helping each other out is really important,” said Marine Corps Corporal. Megele A. Davis, Motor Vehicle Operator, 6th ESB.
| Date Taken: | 06.22.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2014 14:07 |
| Story ID: | 133952 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Joint-forces logistics training, by SGT Thomas Crough, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT