Quartermasters play key, behind-the-scene role in summer deployments

Spc. Justin Jordan of California, Mo., works on a civilian vehicle to get it running for a simulated training to teach MPs how to deal with approaching cars that may be occupied by hostiles.

CAMP CLARK, Mo. -- As a cook, Sgt. Delmar Horman knows his job is not the most glamorous in the military.

But the Cape Girardeau resident knows it is important work, especially now that he's doing it to feed Soldiers who are mobilizing at Camp Clark before leaving for missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It is basic, but somebody's got to do it for these guys," Horman said last week from a Camp Clark kitchen. "It may not sound like a big deal, but keeping these guys fed is a vital part of the mission."

Horman is a member of the 735th Quartermasters (Force Provider) Company. He is among those from across the state who are performing annual training at Camps Clark and Crowder in two-week rotations from May until August to help hundreds of military police who are about to be deployed.

"Our job is to help keep the guys focused," said Maj. Craig Swank, company. "What we do allows the units that are deploying to focus on training. They don't have to worry about getting fed, their laundry, things like that. That's what we're here for. So they don't have to worry about anything but training."

Last week, the DeSoto-based unit had 46 Soldiers split between Clark and Crowder cooking, doing laundry service, setting up and maintaining fueling stations and working on vehicles for the troops to use for training. They are also performing other administrative duties as well, Swank said.

And it's a big job, too. On any given day, the Quartermasters are maintaining nearly 24-hour around-the-clock operations, Swank said, and they are feeding and doing laundry for about 200 people. The rotations began on March 7 and the last rotation will be completed around the end of August.

Swank said mobilizing at Camp Clark also reduces Missouri National Guard Soldiers time at out-of-state mobilization stations.

"Before, the Soldiers were sent out of state to mobilize," Swank said. "But now they start out at Clark or Crowder and they get to stay closer to home. They'll get some time off and many of them can go home one more time before being deployed. It's really a win-win to keep them in-state. Plus, more of that money stays in the local communities."

The biggest mission for the Quartermasters is in the kitchen, Swank said. Horman, who recently lost a civilian job to the poor economy, volunteered to stay all summer to provide continuity in the kitchen. He's noticed that it's an overall good climate for Citizen-Soldiers to perform their annual training.

"The Soldiers here are getting good hands-on training and doing AT at the same time," he said.

In another building nearby, Staff Sgt. Fred Marsh is heading up the laundry service. The laundry is open 12 hours, six in the morning and six in the evening.

"Everyone has a job," Marsh said. "Everyone has to do that job. Our job help the military police do theirs. They don't need to be worrying about doing their laundry. They're about to go overseas. So they can drop off their laundry here and we take care of it."

Mechanics also are helping keeping up vehicle maintenance and getting civilian vehicles ready to use for training. Last week, for example, a group of mechanics worked on a pick-up to get it operational for the MPs to use as an approaching vehicle that may be occupied by terrorists.

"We get these vehicles ready to go," said Staff Sgt. Dan Burkett, with the 1035th Support Maintenance Company in St. Louis. "Some folks get dressed up in Arabic garb and drive up in one of these vehicles. It's another training tool. But in order for them to use they've vehicles, they've got to start. That's what we make sure of."

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.

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For more information about this release, please contact Scott Moyers at 573-339-6237 or at scott.moyers1@us.army.mil.