Military

475th Quartermaster Group

The 475th Quartermaster Group is the United States Army Reserve's only Petroleum & Water Group. The 475th Quartermaster Group and its POLEX Down Trace units support Class III, Water and Corps Support Operations Other Than War.

Petroleum products required by the military prior to World War II were relatively small and requirements were usually placed on industry. With the overnight growth of mechanized forces and extensive Air Force training programs Class III support became a major logistical problem. Sixty (60%) percent of all cargoes handled were petroleum. Trained personnel for the military were practically nonexistent and facilities for training were not available. With the loss of so many engines due to the lack of quality fuel, the Army learned a valuable lesson, and immediately after WW II, plans were drafted to put the Army into business of training its own quality surveillance specialists.

Task Organization - POLEX "01"