Fueler always motivated

Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Justin E. Owens, a petroleum supply specialist with Company A, 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and native of Yuma, Ariz. performing a hot refuel at Camp Walker, South Korea.  

DONGDUCHEON, 41, SOUTH KOREA

11.04.2014

Story by Capt. Jessica Tackaberry 

2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea- The sentiments, motivation and focus Soldiers project around one another make a huge difference in the spectrum of performance, team cohesion and mission accomplishment. In a career field such as petroleum supply and fuel handling, it takes a high-quality team to ensure fuel is distributed in a timely and safe manner while testing fuel regularly to ensure quality is never sacrificed.

“Trust your team and equipment and always stay motivated,” said Pfc. Justin E. Owens, a petroleum supply specialist with Company A, 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and native of Yuma, Ariz.

Owens has served in the Army for about 15 months and as a Soldier, he’s looking for discipline and good training. He has been doing this job on a daily basis. He spends his time off from work going to the gym to better his physical fitness.

Owens’ unit conducts several types of fuel missions across the peninsula. Such missions include the refueling of aircraft while still running, known as hot refueling, and while parked on the flight line, call cold refueling. The unit also provides fuel for vehicles, generators, and any other tactical machinery used to conduct garrison and field missions.

Fuel stations known as forward area refueling points, are set up for U.S. Army aircraft across the entire Korean Peninsula. Soldiers of the 602nd ASB are spread out amongst these stations in order to provide the aircraft with fuel 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Like many Soldiers, Owens looks for mentorship and guidance from Soldiers who have been in his career field longer. While conducting his unit’s mission here Owens feels that’s important for the job he conducts every day.

“My job consists of ensuring that fuel is of aviation quality to be issued to helicopters via hot refuel,” said Owens.

Pfc. Bumjin Kim, a petroleum laboratory specialist with Company A, shares in Owens’ sentiments to be motivated at all times, stand for what you believe in and support your fellow Soldiers.

Bumjin is from Seoul, South Korea, and has served in the U.S. Army for 18 months. Although born in South Korea, he joined the U.S. Army for the experience. He has had the unique opportunity to observe the differences between the U.S. Army and the Republic of Korea army while serving here.

Bumjin’s duties include testing samples for water separation, flash point, particle contaminates and vapor pressure to name a few. What does he think about the responsibility of doing all that?

“It’s not too hard if you follow the instructions,” said Bumjin.

He chose his specialty because it looked interesting and appealed to him. While not on duty, Bumjin enjoys spending time with his wife.

Bumjin explained that he trains for his career with on-the-job training on different types of fuels.

It is important to both Owens and Bumjin to follow the instruction manuals and procedures. Bumjin also said, “Keeping the laboratory fully mission capable,” is necessary for him to successfully execute his duties.

The sentiments of these two petroleum supply and fuel handler specialists show their motivation to be Soldiers, perform their duties and better themselves while serving. Their mission to issue and dispense fuel to units across the entire peninsula 24 hours a day, 365 days a year is no small feat. With their strong commitment, it is no wonder the 2nd Infantry Division succeeds at its mission deterring aggression and maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula.

• Date Taken: 11.04.2014
• Date Posted: 11.04.2014 03:00
• Story ID: 146896
• Location: DONGDUCHEON, 41, KR
• Hometown: SEOUL, 11, KR
• Hometown: YUMA, AZ, US