1-63AR Tests Water Purification System at Hohenfels Training Area

Photo By Sgt. Andrew McNeil | A U.S. Army tank crew belonging to 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment “Dragons”, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, set up a solar panel on top of their M1A2 Abrams tank to charge a new capability, portable water purification system at the Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, during Combined Resolve X, May 2, 2018. Exercise Combined Resolve is an U.S. Army Europe exercise series held twice a year in southeastern Germany provided the Joint Modernization Command an opportunity to assess multiple concepts and capabilities. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrew McNeil / 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

HOHENFELS, GERMANY

05.02.2018

Story by Spc. Andrew McNeil 

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

HOHENFELS, Germany — As the sun cuts through the clouds, U.S. Army Sgt. Bert Everhart Jr., a Soldier from 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment “Dragons”, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, and his crew set up a solar panel on top of their M1 Abrams tank to charge a new capability, a portable water purification system at the Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, during exercise Combined Resolve X, May 2, 2018.

“We are out here testing the Versa Pak purification system to see how much water it can actually purify and its capabilities for a tank company,” said Everhart.

The new capability, Versa Pak, is a modular purification system that is capable of using an ultrafiltration membrane and reverse osmosis. The system weighs 50 pounds and can produce 45 gallons of purified water every hour.

His team was selected to help the U.S. Army Joint Modernization Command field test and collect data on one of four different portable water filtration systems through the Joint Warfighter Assessment and Combined Resolve X.

Combined Resolve is a bi-annual exercise designed to give the Army’s regionally allocated combat brigades a combat training center rotation within a joint and multinational environment.

“This is very exciting, because I want to be able to provide the best feedback I can,” said Everhart. “Being able to give honest feedback during tests like this allows me to do my duty as a Soldier.”

Combined Resolve X provided the Joint Modernization Command an opportunity to assess multiple concepts and capabilities, which will assist Soldiers and units in operational environments.

After testing the new capability, Everhart gave his feedback to U.S. Army Master Sgt. Betheny Jones, who is assisting with JWA and is a Soldier assigned to the Army Sustainment Command-Army Reserve Element at Fort Hood, Texas.

“I’m on the team collecting data on the water purification systems,” said Jones.

Jones was responsible for talking to the Soldiers testing the new capability and collected their thoughts and experiences with the equipment.

The Joint Multinational Readiness Center in the Hohenfels Training Area allowed for an environment to assess the concepts and capabilities in a less formal process and without the constraints of a formal test program.

Jones said the questions she asked the Soldiers focused on four key aspects: training, size and weight, can the capability be used in the operational tempo of the field environment and what the Soldier’s overall experience with the equipment was like.

“We need to know if the equipment fits the unit’s needs and if the Soldiers have any recommendations,” said Jones.

By allowing the Soldiers to test capabilities like this in the field, the Army can see if the equipment will work in a field environment and if it can be improved said Jones.

The JWA is a Soldier-led exercise that enables immediate Soldier and leader feedback on emerging concepts and capabilities.

• Date Taken: 05.02.2018
• Date Posted: 05.03.2018 10:58
• Story ID: 275535
• Location: HOHENFELS, DE
• Hometown: HOHENFELS, BY, DE
• Hometown: FORT RILEY, KS, US
• Hometown: MANHATTAN, KS, US
• Hometown: TOPEKA, KS, US
• Hometown: WITCHITA, KS, US