PYEONGTAEK, South Korea – The 501st Sustainment Brigade carried out the Water and Fuel Expo July 7-12 at the training area near Camp Humphreys to share efficient techniques to use fuel and water supply equipments for supply support to the troops during emergency situations .
The military has to conduct field exercises frequently to prepare for enemy attacks in order to protect our land and lives. However, if the by-products of the field exercise are contaminated and wastes for our livelihood, it would be hard to say it is for the sake of the land we live in and our lives. Therefore, the 501st SBDE made the "environment friendly exercise" as one of the best goals to minimize the harm to the training area.
“One of the reasons why we are holding this expo is to teach the soldiers how to protect the environment from fuel spillage by using drill pads and spill kits for any leaks not to contaminate the area,” said Sgt. Jonathan P. Lett, 302D Brigade Support Battalion Fuel Section petroleum supply specialist. “If we harm the training site, it affects not only to the future training but also to the people living on the peninsula. We have to leave the site as it was.”
The 348th Quartermaster Company, 194th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion showed the refuel on the move system which enables the fueler to fuel vehicles and aircraft as many and fast as they can by using eight hoses with forked valves.
Along with the ROM instructor’s explanations of how to utilize it, he pointed out that it can prevent environmental damages.
“A lot of people end up spilling when they fuel with using only two hoses. However, when we set up the ROM system, there are rarely any spills and furthermore we can accomplish the mission quickly by using Y- or T-fitting valves,” said Spc. Joshua M. Kenagy, 348th QM Company Fuel Platoon the ROM instructor.
Meanwhile, the 602nd Aviation Support Battalion revealed how they test the quality of fuel with the Petroleum Quality Analysis System-Enhanced. PQAS-E determines if the fuels are usable by analyzing their quality.
“The purpose of the PQAS-E is to test the quality of all types of fuels by conducting B-2 type tests. We log the fuel's temperature by 10 seconds, distilling the fuels thoroughly,” said Pfc. Jewell N. Brodiegraham, 602nd ASB Fuel & Water & Lima Platoon petroleum laboratory specialist. “Afterwards, the samples are determined whether they are usable or not for the specific unit.”
Also, Brodiegraham stressed out that the PQAS-E is environment friendly.
“We have different types of environmental safety precautions with using PQAS-E such as spill kits, spill pads, fire extinguishers and all basic issue items. After we finish the job, we preserve the samples in containers and dispose them with a certain process at a specific disposal place,” Brodiegraham said.
The Water and Fuel Expo successfully ended July 12 without harming the training area with the cautions and efforts of the soldiers.