“Lifeliners” look to take “Showers in a Box”

Portable showers boost morale, health for combat Soldiers
By SFC Pete Mayes
101st Sustainment Brigade

FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, September 12, 2009 – One of the Army’s most effective tools in combating terrorist in Iraq and Afghanistan doesn’t use bullets … it takes a gallon and half of water instead.
The Bath Portable Unit – also known as “the shower in a box” - has proven not only effective in saving lives through sanitation, but also provides a much need morale boost to those Soldiers who don’t have access or the ability to take a hot shower daily.
“If you can imagine being in one of these remote outposts where you’re constantly sweaty, itching, and your skin is starting to crack and bleed, how good it feels to use one of these showers, and come out feeling clean and totally, refreshed,” said Chief Warrant Officer Two Josh Hughes, Field Services Officer in Charge of the 101st Sustainment Brigade Support Operations (SPO), 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.
Brigade leaders were given a demonstration of one such Shower unit from U.S. Thermal Inc.,an Ohio-based manufacturer this past Wednesday.
Sustainment brigades as a rule do not deploy as an entire organization into theater; they can augment Brigade Combat Teams and other units in remote locations. The brigade is looking to purchase these several of these units as they prepare for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan next year.
Sergeant Major Fred Stewart, Supply and Services Sergeant Major for the SPO, said each unit weighs less than 75 pounds and comes in two bags. It takes only 15 minutes to assemble. Once it’s ready to operate, four Soldiers can shower at the same time within the individual shower stalls.
SPO Supply and Services NCOIC Sergeant First Class Mark Surber said having the portable shower units at the remote site makes it easier for the Soldiers because of the difficulty of getting fresh water to the Soldiers.
“We can’t always get water to them using trucks because of the terrain,” he said.
Mr. Hughes said many Soldiers in remote Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) go for several days without a hot shower, and resort to having their buddies pour bottles of water over their bodies in an attempt to clean themselves.
He also said the showers help cut down on the spread of infections. “There are a lot of germs and bacteria the Soldiers are exposed to because of it. By controlling infections, we’re savings lives as well,” Mr. Hughes said.