Combating one of the Soldier's worst natural enemies

Photo By Sgt. Elizabeth Raney | U.S. Army Pfc. Joshua Smith, a petroleum supply specialist with the 960th Quartermaster Company, fills a fuel can during the Combat Support Training Exercise on Fort McCoy, Wis., June 15. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Beth Raney, 363rd Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

06.18.2015

Courtesy Story

310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

By U.S. Army Spc. Blake A. Essex

FORT MCCOY, Wis. - U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers of the 651st Quartermaster Company strive to provide safe and healthy water for coalition forces who are currently training on Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, as part of the Combat Support Training Exercise Global Lightning 2015 during the month of June.

Supporting more than 6,000 personnel, the strain to answer the demands for potable water is high. The 651st QM Soldiers met this challenge and helped keep the CSTX missions running with the use of two Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units and two Tactical Water Purification Systems, each pumping out 3,000 and 1,500 gallons of water per hour respectively. Water is siphoned from Big Sandy Lake where it is then, purified, and distributed to the Forward Operating Bases and training areas within the operational area of CSTX Global Lighting.

Spc. Jessica Neidhardt, a water purification specialist, spoke on the importance of water purification.

"It helps with, obviously, keeping people hydrated, as well as laundry, and showers when they are feasible," Neidhardt explained. "Maintaining Soldiers basically."

Spc. Nathaniel Petterson, a water purification specialist, added that clean water is essential to good health while also warning of the dangers of drinking non-purified water.

"If you didn't have clean water you would always feel fatigued, you would have terrible stomach cramps." Petterson said. "If you get dysentery, you actually would have a good chance of dying."

Dehydration is one of the most dangerous natural adversaries threatening Soldier health and mission success. However the Soldiers of the 651st refuse to back down from the growing challenge by tirelessly working to ensure the health of their comrades.

"We take the most nasty, vile water and purify it into drinking water," explained Staff Sgt. Kacee Coster, a water purification specialist with the 651st. "Everyone needs water. The mission is over within 24 hours if you don't have water. Without clean water, or any water, Soldiers can't do their jobs."

• Date Taken: 06.18.2015
• Date Posted: 06.27.2015 20:06
• Story ID: 168411
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US