Soldiers provide showers, laundry services, boost morale

Photo By Sgt. Elizabeth Raney | U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Eric Gedeon, a shower, laundry, and clothing repair specialist, operates a laundry-advanced system during the Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise (QLLEX) on Fort Huachuca, Ariz., June 10, 2015. Gedeon is assigned to the 974th Quartermaster Company out of Amarillo, Texas. The unit is tasked with providing hot showers and clean laundry for nearly 600 other Soldiers in the field during the QLLEX. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Beth Raney, 363rd Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT HUACHUCA, AZ, UNITED STATES

06.10.2015

Courtesy Story

364th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

By U.S. Army Sgt. Beth Raney

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. - U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 974th Quartermaster Company out of Amarillo, Texas, are providing hot showers and clean laundry for nearly 600 other Soldiers in the field during the Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise (QLLEX) 2015 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

With only 33 personnel, the team has been working diligently to provide these basic comforts to Soldiers working under the 418th Quartermaster Battalion out of Marana, Arizona.

“When you are clean, you know that you are being cared for, being taken care of,” said 1st Lt. Jimmy Holden, commander of the 974th Quartermaster Company. “Hygiene-wise, it is definitely a benefit to be a healthy soldier and we provide that.”

Pfc. Shaylin Taylor, a shower/laundry, and clothing repair specialist, says she really enjoys her job.

“It really is a rewarding job to have when you see the moral being boosted,” she said. “Everyone needs a shower, everyone needs their laundry done eventually. When they go out to the field it’s not something that they expect to have, so when they see us out here and they see us set up, it’s something they get excited about. So it makes us some of the favorite ones out here.

In addition to the Soldiers specifically assigned as laundry specialists, the unit also includes maintenance and movement personnel, such as Spc. Alberto Cavazos, a motor transport operator.

“My tasking is usually driving the equipment around when we load it up making sure it is secured,” he explained. “Making sure it is properly delivered and safely delivered, but I do work with the laundry guys.”

“Working with these guys is pretty awesome; to see them come together and set everything up,” Cavazos said. “It’s always nice to see a soldier come in who is dirty, tired, gets a hot shower, gets clean clothes, and gets his moral boosted. So he can go back out in the field and strive on for another day.”

Capt. Shawn Adams, the battalion personnel officer for the 418th Quartermaster Battalion, is a satisfied recipient of the laundry and shower services.

“It’s been fabulous,” he said. “They were very, very quick getting set up. They offered hot showers day one of this exercise in addition to laundry turn in with a 24-hour turn around.”

“We have a limited number of items we can bring out here, so having a quick turnaround is pretty fabulous,” Adams added. “I think if it wasn’t in place you would have dirtier uniforms, which leads to smellier Soldiers, which leads to unpleasant work environment. It is very important.”

Soldiers assigned to the 974th Quartermaster Company expressed genuine appreciation for the units they support and a sense of pride in their mission.

“It’s fantastic,” Holden said. “I’ve never had better people I’ve been associated with and I love it. The rewards associated with it are fantastic. When you are in a unit that you are supporting like this, you’re loved and cared for. I can guarantee you that, as long as [they] provide those showers and clean laundry.”

• Date Taken: 06.10.2015
• Date Posted: 06.15.2015 23:20
• Story ID: 166753
• Location: FORT HUACHUCA, AZ, US