FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. - On a warm summer morning, June 11, Lance Cpl. Emmanuel Beliard inserts the fuel nozzle into the back of the forklift operated by Senior Airman Ryan Hockertlotz, pumping gallons of fuel into the massive vehicle.
An hour prior, Beliard conducted preventive maintenance on the same fuel point to ensure faultless functionality. The military requires periodic inspections of fuel points before any pumping can take place.
Bulk Fuel Company Bravo is the sole Marine unit on Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., contributing to the training and sustainment efforts of the Global Medic annual training exercise. In addition to providing four fueling points in its sector of operations for military and tactical vehicles, Bulk Fuel Company B, which falls under the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, conducts numerous other tasks essential to the training mission. The 6th ESB, 4th MLG, is based out of Wilmington, Del., boasting approximately 170 Marines.
"An integral part of the fuel support for this exercise is the bulk of generators that support the hospital, Air Force and the air-evacuation medics that are out here running the flight line," said Marine Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Broaddus, commanding officer of Company B. "Critical to the exercise is that they need to get from point A to point B. They need the generators to run their communications equipment and general life support [such as] showers, laundry, chow hall and the hospitals."
According to Broaddus, this is the first time his unit has supported the Global Medic exercise.
Broaddus is from West Grove, a borough of approximately 2,600 people located in Chester County, Pa. His role as the Company B commanding officer is to make certain that his Marines get adequately trained in their specific occupational skills, and prepare the company in an expeditionary training mindset for possible future deployments.
One of the most exceptional features of Company B's operational area, from a visual standpoint, is the giant berm established near the entrance to their site.
An intricate network of valves and layers of fuel-absorbent material, the fuel berm is designed to contain up to 20,000 gallons of fuel within its 6-by-9 foot capacity. The berm completely eliminates the hassle of hazardous oil spills and is within the safety regulations established by the Environmental Protection Agency. Finally, as Broaddus points out, the berm fuel containment somewhat deflates the risk of mortar attacks by insurgent elements in Iraq and Afghanistan due to the fact that incinerated fuel will be isolated in a single location.
The combined factors of streamlined operational flow and Marine Corps training values have made the company an integral asset to the overall success of Global Medic. Bulk Fuel Company B will continue to conduct support operations for Global Medic throughout the duration of the exercise.
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2009 16:35 |
| Story ID: | 35375 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 433 |
| Downloads: | 396 |
This work, Marine battalion's first entry into Global Medic an outstanding success, by SPC Christopher Hernandez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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