Photo By Spc. Alejandra Duenas | U.S. Army Sgt. Josh J. Leininger, Staff Sgt. Derrick A. Ford and Spc. Sheena N....... read more read more
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CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — As participants in Vibrant Response 13-2, National Guard and Reserve soldiers will be busy responding to a simulated nuclear explosion. Luckily, after all emergencies have been contained and fires extinguished, there is a hot shower waiting for a soldier to wash the day away.
The 338th Quartermaster Field Services Company, a National Guard unit from Fort Wayne, Ind., is providing free laundry and shower services to soldiers participating in Vibrant Response from July 27 through Aug. 19.
“The most important thing about this mission is high morale and showing the capabilities of our unit,” said Capt. Nathan M. Bostrom, 338th commander.
The 338th can accommodate up to 1,200 soldiers a day for showers and 1,000 a day for laundry. There are 24 showers centrally located in a tent on Camp Atterbury that are cleaned daily. The tents are also equipped with water heaters and mirrors. Female soldiers can shower from 5 to 7 a.m., and at 6 to 8 p.m. The hours for males are 7 to 9 a.m., and from 8 to 10 p.m.
While being able to bathe daily is a luxury in a field environment, so is having a clean uniform. Soldiers deployed to Camp Atterbury during Vibrant Response can drop off their laundry daily, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. The service is free and the laundry returned clean and folded.
Vibrant Response, a major field training exercise, is conducted by U.S. Northern Command and led by U.S. Army North.
Approximately 5,700 service members and civilians from the military and other federal and state agencies are training to respond to a catastrophic domestic incident. As a component of U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Army North coordinates timely federal military response to disasters in the homeland to help the American people in time of need.
The Laundry Advanced System is the equipment used to clean soldiers' clothes during training exercises. It is comprised of four drums that can hold up to 25 bags of laundry in each and the water reaches a temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Soldiers can receive their clothes the same day.
Even those living in the best of conditions find value in using the 338th’s laundry service.
“I could easily use the services at the hotel but these soldiers are here for a reason and it’s very convenient for me,” said Capt. Joahan M. Sandoval-Murchison with the 7217 Medical Support Unit, Miami. “I think it’s great what these guys are doing.”
A very motivated Spc. Sheena N. Fullerton, a laundry/shower specialist, expressed her love for providing such a mission essential service to soldiers.
“I’m here for 30 days, but I don’t mind. I love it,” said Fullerton. “I like feeling like I am doing a great service for other people.”
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2013 11:13 |
| Story ID: | 111809 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 309 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 338th Quartermaster Field Services Company cleans soldiers’ clothes, by SPC Alejandra Duenas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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