FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Aug. 11, 2016) -- Nine Soldiers from A Company, 277th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, won first place during the 2nd Annual 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum Water Exposition rodeo challenge at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield, held July 25-29.
The overall event, hosted by the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, gave internal units an opportunity to showcase their distinctive water purification and distribution talents, while gaining insight on each other's water training procedures.
"We were really looking forward to this specific portion of the event," said Capt. Monte Bailey, A Company commander. "We love friendly competition and we love winning. Events like this provide you with a small glimpse of how well resourced and trained we are."
The setup for the Water Exposition consisted of four phases: planning, preparation, execution and recovery.
It was during the second day of the execution phase when A Company, along with other water treatment specialists, also known as Water Dawgs, from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Brigade Combat Team and 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade put their knowledge to the test during the rodeo challenge.
According to Staff Sgt. Yesenia Corey, support operations section noncommissioned officer in charge, the rodeo challenge tested each unit's ability to conduct water quality analysis, stream water quantity calculations, and set up the forward area water point supply system. The final challenge was a written exam covering all of the equipment used during the exposition.
These tasks, often unnoticed by those who are not water treatment specialists, play a critical role during deployments and homeland emergencies.
As water treatment specialists, their job is to be the subject-matter experts on conducting water measurements and quality analysis on site. Through various meticulous methods they can remove impurities from raw water such as solids, microbiological contaminants and other harmful chemicals, to levels that are rendered safe for human consumption.
So, it is through their vast knowledge and technical proficiency that other Soldiers are able to conduct personal hygiene, food preparation and medical treatment and adequately hydrate from anywhere in the world.
On the last day of the execution phase, all Water Dawgs proudly showcased their distinct equipment and provided in-depth demonstrations to all visitors, something that made Bailey beam with pride.
"Seeing our young Soldiers briefing and conducting hands-on demonstrations to seasoned officers and noncommissioned officers without any hesitation says a lot about them," Bailey said. "Their professionalism and technical knowledge really shined this week, and as their commander, I couldn't be any more proud."
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeremy Coleman, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade petroleum systems technician, agreed with Bailey.
"At the end of the day, we're all one team," he added. "And that's what the events like the Fort Drum Water Exposition does, it brings all Water Dawgs together and lets them know you can depend on your battle buddies to your left and your right no matter the mission."
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