FORT PICKETT, Va. -- No matter the condition, the U.S. military finds a way to train while providing a clean and healthy environment to its forces on the ground. That mission has been left to the guys that the military cannot complete its mission without.
That's where the Army preventive medicine unit steps in. Four Paratroopers of 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division participated in field sanitation certification training.
"The course is designed to help unit commanders protect their soldiers from food-, water-, air- and insect-borne diseases, as well as barracks illness and inhalation hazards, said Capt. Lisa C. Beach, a preventive medicine officer and lead instructor for the course, assigned to Virginia National Guard Medical Command. "It also teaches the Soldiers how to properly apply pesticides and inspect for general food sanitation."
For the majority of the 40-hour course, the paratroopers, alongside their 26 National Guard classmates, participated in lectures that included a number of case studies. The students participated in practical exercises which incorporated water sanitation training and water buffalo inspection training.
"We want to educate Soldiers on how to properly identify rodent and insect infestations that can cause illness," said Beach. "They are also educated on personal-protective equipment, personal hygiene, food inspections as well as the proper use of insect repellant."
Because field sanitation happens at all levels, preventive medicine officers like Beach only need to certify the finished work once teams are trained. Units can remain mission ready when not confronted with illnesses and other related problems resulting from improper field sanitation, said Beach.
"I learned a lot on the preventive aspects of [dining facility sanitation]," said Pfc. Casey K. Amay, a supply specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 501st PIR. "I learned how to properly keep a place clean, sanitized and how to identify certain bugs."
Beach said that units operating in remote areas while deployed or in the field rely heavily on proper sanitation to stay healthy and remain mission effective.
Amay believes the class will assist paratroopers in maintaining field sanitation standards throughout their organizations while conducting their duties.
"I feel like this class has helped me learn a lot about field sanitation and the proper procedures for keeping the field environment clean," said Amay. "I will be better qualified to maintain field sanitation because, not only am I learning the field manual, but I'm also getting hands-on training."
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