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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah soldiers with the U.S. Army Reserves will deploy to West Africa next year to support the humanitarian mission to contain Ebola. The 96th Sustainment Brigade won't treat patients, but they will provide supplies for Operation United Assistance.
The 96th Sustainment Brigade, headquartered at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, keeps all of its equipment at Fort Douglas, a large lot filled with transport trucks, Humvees and mobile kitchens. It's all going to West Africa in the spring, when 250 Army Reservists deploy to support the troops working to help contain the spread of Ebola.
Today, soldiers with the 96th Sustainment Brigade tuned up Humvees on the lot bound for Africa. They're skilled with military equipment and weapons, but they're not doctors.
"We will not be directly treating Ebola patients," said Lt. Col. Charles Carter, the support operations officer with the 96th.
This unit handle logistics. The 96th will move equipment and supplies the military needs in and out of the area of operations.
"Basically, if the soldier eats it, drinks it, or if they need it for their job, it's our responsibility to get it to them," said Carter.
We will not be directly treating Ebola patients.
–Lt. Col. Charles Carter, 96th Sustainment Brigade
They can set up three different kinds of mobile kitchens to feed as many as 800 troops.
"They have everything from stoves to a convection oven," he said, pointing to a large green trailer that contains a mobile kitchen that can be pulled by a Humvee.
The 96th deploys cooks, truck drivers and officers that will coordinate the movement of supplies. For many, it will be their second deployment or more. For Carter, it's the first.
"It's a great opportunity to help a part of the world that needs it."
Carter said the soldiers, who found out about the deployment Friday, have a positive attitude. They will get the safety training they need to work in an environment with Ebola.
"We will be fully trained to deal with anything that comes about," said Carter.
Even though they won't deal with patients, they will get two temperature checks a day, and will watch for symptoms. When they get home, they will be monitored for 21 days before returning to their families.
"Their safety and training is priority number one," said Carter. "So, we will be trained completely before we roll out."
When it deploys, Carter said the 96th will rotate in to relieve an active duty unit that is handling that job now.
The 96th Sustainment Brigade last deployed to Iraq in 2010, where soldiers helped recover munitions, among other jobs, as U.S. involvement in Iraq was winding down.
