Field sanitation is the Army’s way of keeping soldiers healthy and morale high. It encompasses four broad areas: pest control, waste disposal, foodservice and soldier health and hygiene. Although medics and medical officers are responsible for preventing and treating nonbattle injuries and diseases (NBDI), everyone in the unit can contribute by practicing basic field sanitation.
For example, it’s important to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. It is also essential to use a disinfectant when transitioning between cleaning tasks. Avoid relying on hand sanitizer, as it is not as effective. When eating, use clean utensils and wear disposable gloves when handling food.
Additionally, make sure to dispose of human waste regularly. It should be in a latrine or pit at least 100 meters from camp and tightly sealed. Lastly, daily trash must be removed from collection points and stored in secure containers.
ATRRS Army Field Sanitation Course focuses on the reduction of nonbattle disease and injury (DNBI) among military personnel. It includes pest control, waste disposal, food sanitation, and soldier health and hygiene. It also encompasses avoiding and treating insect-borne diseases caused by mosquitoes, louses, flies, ticks, gnats, hornets, fleas, and mites.
While the primary responsibility for field sanitation falls on medics and medical officers, all soldiers can play a role. It is important to use personal insect repellent daily and cover all sleeping areas with bug netting. In addition, daily showers help soldiers feel fresh and clean and are essential for morale.
The potential for illness and a breakdown in morale due to poor sanitation is not worth the risk. Whether deployed in a combat zone or not, a unit commander must establish an effective field sanitation team. The team should consist of soldiers whose duties allow them to devote full attention to the task at hand.
What is Field Sanitation Team Certification Course
Keeping units clean and healthy is a big job, but it’s one that all soldiers should contribute to. Effective field sanitation includes pest control, waste disposal, food service, personal hygiene, and soldier health and safety.
The Army offers a hybrid Field Sanitation Team Certification Course that is conducted online and in-person. This training is offered to all service members. The FST aims to mitigate the risk of illness and non-battle injury (DNBI) by advising commanders in the various field conditions that may be encountered while deployed.
Units should input their FST applications via 235th RTI Salina, Kansas, using 1Q quotas as soon as possible. If 1Q quotas are not available, coordination with the QSM should be made to obtain seats in each phase as soon as possible. Units should also coordinate the Federal and Accelerated Officer Candidate School (OCS) process with G3 before inputting applications in ATRRS.
Field Sanitation Course Army Promotion Points
In the military, effective field sanitation is vital to keeping your unit healthy and operational. While some soldiers are responsible for pest control, waste disposal, and food service, everyone can help by being vigilant about their own behavior. For example, applying insect repellent several times a day, storing food and paper off the ground, and keeping garbage away from water sources are just some of the things that can be done to improve camp conditions.
The Army offers a variety of field sanitation courses that are valid for promotion points. These include the Resident 41-week Field Sanitation Team Training Course (FSTT) and Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System (NCOPDS). Soldiers who attend these courses are eligible for promotion to sergeant and staff sergeant. However, units should coordinate with their HQ RTI to determine quotas before inputting a Soldier into the course.
Army Field Sanitation Kit Components
Field sanitation equipment is crucial for military personnel on the go. It provides a safe way to wash and sanitize eating and living gear while also providing fresh water. The system uses a single thermostatically controlled Babington Airtronic burner to heat and maintain three 42-gallon sinks (wash, rinse, and sanitize) within prescribed temperatures.
Staying sanitary while in the field can be challenging. Luckily, there are plenty of gear items that can help. One such item is a bar soap holder, which helps ensure that the soap doesn’t come home dirty and gritty. Another helpful hygiene item is a pack of Lunatec self-cleaning travel washcloths.
These cloths stay odor-free, dry quickly, and are a great addition to any field hygiene kit. They’re even available in a two-pack so your service member can have some for themselves and extras to hand out to others.