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    Running on high octane: POL fuels support, combat operations

    Running on high cctane: POL fuels support, combat operations

    Photo By Master Sgt. Christopher Boitz | Airman 1st Class Jake refuels a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 at an undisclosed...... read more read more

    (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

    05.22.2015

    Courtesy Story

    United States Air Forces Central     

    UNDISCLOSED LOCATION – Sweat starts to pour down Airman 1st Class Arnaldo’s face. It’s only 9 a.m., its 100 degrees outside and the temperature is climbing. Chatter comes across his radio for a fuel request; he wipes his face off, hops in his R-12 refueler and heads to the flightline. It’s an ordinary day, but the mission he is performing is anything but ordinary.

    Every day, he and his coworkers work round the clock, enabling aircraft to get off the ground--aircraft which are dropping munitions over Iraq and Syria, degrading and defeating ISIL.

    “We support a lot of different missions here, like the KC-10’s and the fighter’s [aircraft],” said Airman Arnaldo, fuels distribution operator. “They’re flying missions every day against ISIL targets; it’s very important that we make sure they are fueled up and we get them to where they need to go.”

    The men and women of the Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants (POL) flight deliver nearly 14.5 million gallons of fuel to aircraft in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE every month.

    “We’re here to help bombs get down range,” said Tech Sgt. Christopher, NCOIC of fuels distribution. “We deliver the fuel that supports not only our assets but our coalition partners. We fulfill over 50 percent of the in-flight refuels here in the theater.”

    The mission is diverse, complemented with several weapons systems with unique fueling requirements. Each POL Airman must be able to meet those needs, prompting a keen eye for attention to detail.

    “Each aircraft requires different amounts of fuel and some need fuel that is kept at certain temperatures,” said Airman Arnaldo. “Because it’s so hot out here, the fuel expands and it makes a difference in how much fuel we can put in. We have to be cautious and use situational awareness when we are refueling; making sure we use the correct pressure on the nozzles so there is no leaking or venting of fuel.”

    While the fuel operations on the flightline are a 24-hour operation, there’s an equally important mission happening on the other side of the installation.

    “We handle all of the fuel needs for the support side of the base like the self-service station, forklifts, the fire department vehicles,” said Airman Arnaldo. “Our mission is to support their mission needs regarding fuel. We help the rest of the base operate.”

    Over 173K gallons of fuel is needed monthly to support the installation’s other key assets; servicing everything from generators and air conditioning to aerospace ground equipment.

    There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the POL flight. They’re not just pumping gas or driving trucks back and forth; they’re fueling an entire force and coalition strikes against ISIL. They enable Air Superiority. It’s a mission that must not fail.

    “We’re supporting one of the busiest flightlines in the region, including all the organizations here on base,” said Airman Arnaldo. “When you look at all the missions the aircraft are flying, all the strikes against ISIL, it feels good to know that we’re a part of it. We’re a very important piece of the mission here.”

    (Editor’s note: Due to safety and security reasons, last names and unit designators were removed.)

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.22.2015
    Date Posted: 05.22.2015 00:27
    Story ID: 164215
    Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

    Web Views: 33
    Downloads: 0

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