During summer of 2018, KSU Extension Aquaculture personnel met with troops from US Army Veterinary Corps 72nd MDVSS from Fort Campbell, KY.  The Veterinary Corps contacted KSU extension specialists to expose troops to aquaculture and to engage with a regional commercial aquaculture operation to simulate such an interaction that may occur during deployment.  Operation intent would be to provide veterinary diagnostic and food science services to support local communities in order to help deter influence by opposition forces. 

During the spring, KSU State Extension Specialists presented programs at Fort Campbell on aquaculture production systems, water quality and fish disease to military personnel that consisted of veterinarians, technicians and food scientists. Later in the summer, I met with three Veterinary Corps officers to evaluate a small processing facility and a catfish farm located near Murray KY for a two day training operation during late June.  Eleven Veterinary Corps soldiers camped in a wooded area of Ponderosa Farms and visited Blue Shore Fishery, a fish processing facility, from June 27th to the 29th. Troops were able to interview the farm owner and personnel, and observe fish feeding and a catfish harvest demonstration.  An additional 20 recruits came by bus from Fort Campbell to watch the catfish harvest demonstration and to visit the processing plant.  A water quality testing demonstration and a catfish dissection for the use in their portable laboratory, were provided.  Troops maintained interest in all of the on-farm exercises and demonstrations even when interrupted by sporadic thunderstorms with high winds.  Corps commanders expressed interest further collaboration with KSU Extension to conduct a fish diagnostic and pathology training session at Fort Campbell.