Water purification team supports PATRIOT 2015 exercise

Photo By Maj. Benjamin Hughes | A U.S. Army water treatment specialist with the 753rd Quartermaster Company out of Green Bay, Wis., tests the pond water near a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, Wis., July 19, 2015. The approximately 4,000 gallons of water purified daily supported service members taking part in the annual PATRIOT Exercise, which is a domestic operations disaster-response training exercise conducted by National Guard units working with federal, state and local emergency management agencies and first responders. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Benjamin Hughes/Released)  

VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WI, UNITED STATES

07.19.2015

Story by 1st Lt. Stephen Hudson 

169th Fighter Wing

VOLK FIELD, Wis. – When disaster strikes clean water can be one of the single most important keys to recovery; and Soldiers from the 753rd Quartermaster Company from Green Bay, Wisconsin, are here to provide this vital resource during PATRIOT 2015.

This year the team of U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers, which has previously participated in PATRIOT, is set up next to a pond at Volk Field Combat Readiness Center producing 4,000 gallons of clean water every day for exercise participants. They are storing 3,000 gallons of in water storage bags which can be transported to wherever needed, or units can send water buffalos to pick up.

U.S Army Reserve Spc. Michael Bucciferro, a water purification specialist with the 753rd, said the Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit can produce up to 60,000 gallons of potable water a day, and is used for anything from after a major catastrophe to providing drinking water during wartime.

“We can park the mobile system next to any body of water, including the ocean, and begin producing drinking water within hours,” Bucciferro said.

During 14 weeks of Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Va., Soldiers learn to install and operate the water purification equipment. These skilled technicians are responsible for installing and operating water purification equipment, as well as dealing with water storage and distribution operations. They also inspect facilities and food supplies for the presence of disease, germs or other conditions hazardous to health and the environment.

Spc. Monica Macdonald, said she enjoys her job with the 753rd because it helps people.

The PATRIOT 2015 exercise runs July 21-23 with Air and Army National Guard members from 33 states working with local first responders and state emergency management agencies. This year there are numerous state and local public safety agencies supporting PATRIOT including Pewaukee Fire Department, Wisconsin Emergency Management, Civil Air Patrol, Juneau County Sheriff, Salvation Army and the American Red Cross.

PATRIOT is a Domestic Operations training exercise sponsored by the National Guard Bureau and accredited by the Joint National Capability program. PATRIOT focuses on increasing the understanding of coordination with local, state and federal organizations. It is designed to provide Total Force realistic DOMOPS training by providing a foundation that allows units to define their unique requirements and build them into the overall exercise scenario. PATRIOT focuses on increasing the understanding of coordination, policies, and procedures required in conducting a Joint Inter-Agency domestic response.

• Date Taken: 07.19.2015
• Date Posted: 07.20.2015 12:22
• Story ID: 170538
• Location: VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WI, US