OPERATIONS
The Petroleum Quality Analysis System–Enhanced, located at Kandahar, Afghanistan, with the 601st Aviation Support
Battalion, provided expedient, qualitative petroleum laboratory testing for all U.S. Army units and contractors in and
around Regional Command South. (Photo by Sgt. George W. Slaughter)
Petroleum Quality Analysis System–
Enhanced Operations in Afghanistan
The 601st Aviation Support Battalion ran a laboratory to check fuel quality for units operating in and
around Regional Command South in Afghanistan.
Sgt. George W. Slaughter
By
I
n August 2013, the 601st Aviation Support Battalion deployed
its Petroleum Quality Analysis System–Enhanced (PQAS–E)
to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, with Task Force Guardian in
support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.
In garrison, the Task Force
Guardian PQAS–E team provided
daily qualitative petroleum laboratory testing. To accomplish the mission in theater, the PQAS–E team
needed to address and overcome
multiple challenges, including the
need to conduct 24-hour operations,
acquire supplies for those operations, and learn in-theater shipping
Garrison Operations
and receiving procedures.
About the PQAS–E
The PQAS–E is a self-sufficient,
mobile fuel laboratory that uses
current fuel analysis technologies
to meet Military Standard 3004C,
Q uality Assurance/Sur veillance
for Fuels, Lubricants and Related
Products.
PQAS–E operations are designed
to be carried out by three military
occupational specialty 92L (petroleum laboratory specialist) Soldiers.
The system includes a 30-day supply of all expendable items, but it
does not include the fuel needed to
operate the attached generator.
Before deploying to Afghanistan
with Task Force Guardian, the
PQAS–E was located at Marshall
Army Airfield at Fort Riley, Kansas. At home station, the PQAS–E
processed fuel samples for all of
Fort Riley and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, including samples from civilian
contractors. From October 1, 2011,
to August 2013, the PQAS–E processed 1,440 samples, testing over 8
million gallons of fuel.
Operations in Afghanistan
The mission of Task Force
Guardian’s PQAS–E at Kandahar
Airfield was to provide expedient,
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