CROW VALLEY, Philippines -- As a U.S. Marine, being in the field is vital for ensuring realistic training, generally at the cost of comforts experienced by most people. However, Marines with 3rd Maintenance Battalion provided a basic comfort that service members in Crow Valley were grateful for: water.
“There is nothing better than a shower at the end of a hot sweaty day, especially in the Philippines,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jacob L. Karl, the engineering officer in charge with the battalion.
Marines with 3rd Maint. Bn., Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, set up a water point April 30 in Crow Valley, Philippines, for Exercise Balikatan 2014.
The utilities section of the battalion provided the camp with electricity, air conditioning and potable water.
The “Water Dogs” assigned to the battalion have the ability to produce potable water in most tactical situations. Using two Tactical Water Purification Systems and one Light Water Purification System, the Marines produced and stored approximately 65,000 gallons of potable water during the exercise.
The importance of being able to produce potable water in the field is significant to the morale and well-being of the Marines, according Sgt. Daniel B. Britt, a basic water support technician with the battalion.
“The average (amount of) water used a day per Marine is about 20 gallons,” said Britt. “That accounts for hydration, showers, laundry, hygiene and the chow hall.”
Providing potable water is not just important for boosting Marines’ morale, according to Karl.
“Tactically, the water point is really important,” said Karl. “It gives people the life substance, which is water. We should be able to set up a tactical water purification system (wherever we go), and we should be able to make bottled water.”
Through a series of filters and a process of reverse osmosis, the system can take undrinkable water and make it more pure than bottled water, according to Britt.
“When we first get here we test the water for its total dissolve solids, which is all the sand, silt, microorganisms and dirt,” said Lance Cpl. Antonio Sandoval, a water purification specialist assigned to the battalion. “The water’s TDS before going through the TWPS was about 330, but now we are producing water with TDS around one.”
During the exercise, the Marines supplied water for laundry, showers, personal hygiene, and drinking to approximately 700 service members in Crow Valley.
The Marines worked long hours to set up the water point, as well as electricity and air conditioning for the camp.
“It sucks when you are all hot and nasty for 10, 15, 20 days in the field,” said Britt. “The first week while we were setting up the camp, we had no laundry or showers.”
The utilities section of the battalion provided comfort in an uncomfortable place.
“It keeps morale up with Marines when you have these utilities,” said Britt. “I want to take care of my Marines. If they are happy and they are taken care of, they are going to work hard for you.”
Through strong leadership and Marine Corps ingenuity, the battalion’s utilities section completed their task.
“My Marines performed great; they set the tone for themselves,” said Karl. “I have a lot of great (noncommissioned officers). My NCO core for my utilities platoon is very strong, (and includes) some really good sergeants, who make my job easy.”
Morale within the camp rose and brought a sense of stability to the Marines, allowing them to focus more on the exercise and their mission at hand.
“Maintain and support the Ground Combat Element,” said Karl. “We are going to bend over backward to give those warfighters what they need to train the way they should fight. That is our main mission up here.”