Total Force puts water on tap for troops in Middle East

Airmen with the West Virginia Air National Guard and 437th Aerial Port Squadron stand ready to load a C-5 Galaxy as a vehicle operator starts up a V-2000NG well drilling truck July 30, 2010, on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The V-2000NG is manufactured by Laibe Corp who was contracted by the Army. The water drilling system is designed to drill wells as deep as 5,000 feet and will provide U.S. forces clean water at the source rather than trucking water to the base of operations. By creating a local water source, the need for water transportation by convoy is reduced. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

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Total Force puts water on tap for troops in Middle East

Airmen with the Air National Guard and the 437th Aerial Port Squadron guide a vehicle operator as he backs a V-2000NG well drilling truck into a C-5 Galaxy cargo plane July 30, 2010, on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The V-2000NG is a well drilling truck manufactured by Laibe Corp. and was contracted by the U.S. Army to provide troops in the Middle East potable on-site water at the source rather than trucking water to the base of operations. By creating a local water source, the need for water transportation by convoy is reduced. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

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Total Force puts water on tap for troops in Middle East

A loadmaster with the West Virginia Air National Guard signals his counterpart directing a forklift operator to proceed forward into a C-5 Galaxy cargo plane July 30, 2010, on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Clear communication between loadmasters and vehicle operators loading cargo is critical for safe cargo handling, as operators move cargo weighing several tons into the confined space inside aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

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Total Force puts water on tap for troops in Middle East

Airman 1st Class Kyle Greer secures a V-2000NG well drilling system to the bed of a C-5 Galaxy cargo plane July 30, 2010, on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Aerial porters like Airman Greer carefully distribute cargo evenly throughout the aircraft ensuring the cargo does not move freely, causing the aircraft's stability to falter during flight. Depending on the weight and size of the cargo, different configurations are used to tie down the cargo. Airman Greer is a air transportation specialist with the 437th Aerial Port Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

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Total Force puts water on tap for troops in Middle East

Airmen from the 437th Aerial Port Squadron secure water drilling equipment traveling down range to support the U.S. forces in the Middle East July 30, 2010, on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The well drilling system is the third of such shipments to be airlifted via Joint Base Charleston, providing troops with on-site sources of water in the arid climate of the Middle East. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

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Total Force puts water on tap for troops in Middle East

Airmen with the West Virginia Air National Guard and the 437th Aerial Port Squadron adjust the angle of the C-5 cargo ramp to accommodate oversized cargo July 30, 2010, on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Hardwood blocks were positioned beneath the C-5 cargo ramp supports as shoring to allow the vehicle operator to drive a 35-foot water drilling truck into the C-5's cargo hold without scraping the aircraft cargo ramp or the pavement. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

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Total Force puts water on tap for troops in Middle East

Staff Sgt. Kyle Wills, left, and Tech. Sgt. Daniel Haefner secure a V-2000NG well drilling system to the bed of a C-5 Galaxy cargo plane July 30, 2010, on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Aerial porters, known as "port dawgs," carefully distribute cargo evenly throughout the aircraft ensuring the cargo does not move freely causing the aircraft's stability to falter during flight. Depending on the weight and size of the cargo, different tie-down configurations are used to secure the cargo. Sergeant Wills is an air transportation specialist in the Air Force Reserve with the 38th Aerial Port Squadron and Sergeant Haefner is an air transportation specialist with the 437th Aerial Port Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

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Total Force puts water on tap for troops in Middle East

Airmen with the West Virginia Air National Guard and the 437th Aerial Port Squadron work to load and secure U.S. Army procured water drilling equipment July 30, 2010, on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The Army contracted Laibe Corp to supply well drilling equipment for overseas operations allowing essential access to potable water in remote locations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

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Total Force puts water on tap for troops in Middle East

Published Aug. 4, 2010