What does Preventive Medicine (68S) primarily focus on in water operations?

Preventive Medicine (68S) primarily focuses on approving water sources and product water during water operations because it involves ensuring that the water supplied for use is safe and suitable for consumption and other military operations. This function is critical for maintaining the health and operational effectiveness of personnel in the field.

By approving water sources, Preventive Medicine personnel assess and validate the locations from which water is drawn, confirming that they meet health standards and are free from contamination. Similarly, ensuring the quality of product water involves evaluating water purification processes and testing the final output to prevent waterborne diseases and other health risks. This step is crucial because the feasibility of water operations hinges not just on logistics but fundamentally on the safety of the water itself.

While developing water storage solutions, conducting water quality tests, and managing water logistics are all important components of water operations, they typically fall under other areas of expertise or functions within the broader operational context. The unique role of Preventive Medicine is more specialized towards evaluating and approving the water that will be used, making it the primary focus in this scenario.