History

 

 

The department first opened its doors May 21, 1951, on Shop Road. At that time it was simply known as the Airborne Supply Group. Its sole mission was to train soldiers in the emerging field of parachute delivery.  In 1996, the ADFSD became the Department of Defense’s proponent for sling load training and the supporting field manuals.

Since 1950 the Quartermaster Corps has been responsible for training the Army’s parachute riggers and aerial supply personnel. Quartermaster parachute riggers, distinguished by their red caps and working by the motto, “I Will Be Sure Always,” perform their mission with the utmost skill and attention. Airborne soldiers place their lives daily in the hands of Quartermaster-trained Parachute Riggers.

Among the Quartermaster Rigger units, the 8081st QM Air Supply and Packaging Company rigged supplies during the Korean War, the 109th QM Company (Air Delivery) packed supplies during the Vietnam War, and the 5th QM Detachment rig the loads dropped over Afghanistan.

---------

It was not until October 1, 1989, that the training of 92R and 92S MOSs were placed under one training department. As the relationship between hygiene and diseases became better understood in the late 1800’s and it was recognized that soldiers needed field bath facilities, the Quartermaster Corps was given the mission of operating field laundry and bath facilities. Today’s laundry and bath specialist, as well as fabric repair specialists, carry on the mission of providing those field services that at one time also included salvage and repair of discarded equipment.

 

This page was last updated on: August 8, 2013