FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
The Defense Logistics Agency Energy Europe & Africa team provided fuel quality refresher training to three Army petroleum laboratory specialists in preparation for the multinational exercise Saber Strike 2018.
Army Spcs. Terrandonte James, Leashana Phillips and Patrick Kearney will evaluate Army-owned fuel products for quality standards during the exercise using the Petroleum Quality Analysis System-Enhanced mobile laboratory.
“[Petroleum laboratory specialists] are checking and testing fuel to ensure the critical properties are present without any contamination or deterioration,” said DLA Energy Europe & Africa Petroleum Laboratory Supervisory Chemist Michael Domen.
The training the three laboratory specialists received from DLA Energy Europe & Africa is helping them to earn their PQAS-Enhanced mobile laboratory certification from the Army Petroleum Center.
The PQAS-Enhanced is a self-sufficient, mobile laboratory that uses analysis technologies to test fuels, lubricants and related products.
The training not only focused on the use of the PQAS-Enhanced in the field but also on the strict standards of fuel testing methods and requirements.
“There are more than 12,000 American Society for Testing and Materials standards used by professionals worldwide to ensure product quality with more than 40 standards specific to fuel,” said DLA Energy Europe & Africa Petroleum Laboratory Noncommissioned Officer in Charge Army Sgt. 1st Class Scott Tejada who spent time reviewing the test methods with the three soldiers in training. “It’s our mission to provide petroleum quality assurance and surveillance expertise to the warfighter.”
James, Phillips and Kearney are currently assigned to the 72th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve in Powidz, Poland. They will be using the PQAS-Enhanced during Saber Strike 2018, the U.S. Army Europe-led multi-lateral exercise at the Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany, scheduled for June 5-15.
The Army Petroleum Center is the main source for the Army's fuel quality trainings, but through a partnership with DLA Energy, supplemental support within the region is available providing a cost savings for the units with deployed soldiers.