Soldiers could be sent to assist in disaster relief both at home and abroad where water is contaminated.
By Times Staff
Published October 26, 2004
BROOKSVILLE - A new Florida Army National Guard unit, designed to provide potable water support for troops in time of conflict and natural disasters, was activated Saturday.
The Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 856th Quartermaster Battalion (Water) held its activation ceremony during which soldiers unfurled the unit's new battalion colors.
Specifically designed to provide water support for military personnel, the unit will serve a dual purpose domestically and abroad, officials said.
Activation of the 39-member unit will mean the addition of full-time staff to the Brooksville facility, as the unit will provide personnel and equipment for future disaster relief operations, said Maj. Douglas James, spokesman for the 164th Air Defense Military Brigade.
The unit was established at the Brooksville facility by Pentagon officials who, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, recognized the need for more quartermasters and other specialized units, James said.
While there are no immediate plans for the battalion's deployment, James said soldiers could be sent to the Middle East and places devastated by natural disasters, such as Haiti, to provide fresh water for equipment maintenance, food preparation, hydration and personal uses.
One of the units within the battalion - the water purification detachment - changes salty or contaminated water into fresh drink.
"This is the ideal unit to send into areas with no water or contaminated water," James said. "It will be drinkable, but it does not mean it will taste good."
The new battalion's motto is "Hydrate the Force."
Since its official activation on Sept. 1, members of the unit participated in hurricane relief efforts in Ocala and West Palm Beach following Hurricane Jeanne.
The 856th Quartermaster Battalion is currently part of the Florida National Guard's Orlando-based 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and will fall under the brigade's command until 50th Area Support Group, based in Homestead, returns from deployment in Kuwait next month.
The unit is only one of nine battalions of its type in the Army, officials said.
