First time fuel conversion expands 16th SB capabilities

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wyatt | RHINE ORDNANCE BARRACKS, Germany - Sgt. 1st Class Mandy Allen (center), NCOIC of the petroleum laboratory at the Defense Logistics Agency Europe and Africa, explains the techniques in using fuel additives to 16th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers during a proof of principle exercise in the 39th Transportation Battalion motor pool at ROB Mar. 31. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Wyatt, 16th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs, 21st Theater Sustainment Command)  

KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, GERMANY

03.31.2016

Story by Sgt. Daniel Wyatt 

16th Sustainment Brigade

RHINE ORDNANCE BARRACKS, Germany – The ‘Road Runners’ of 515th Transportation Company conducted a fuel additive proof of principle at the 39th Transportation Battalion motor pool at Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Mar. 31.

Proof of principle is a demonstration, the purpose of which is to verify that certain concepts or theories have the potential for real-world application.

The purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate and verify the real world application of changing Jet-A1 fuel to JP-8 fuel using prescribed fuel additives for usage during Noble Partner 16.

“This is the first time 16th Sustainment Brigade has conducted fuel blending procedures in an effort to sustain the warfighting function during Exercise Noble Partner in Georgia,” said Capt. Nicholas Greco, commander of 515th Transportation Company. “This is yet another capability we can add to the brigade to maximize our readiness here in U.S. Army Europe.”

Exercise Noble Partner is a bilateral effort focused on enhancing U.S. and Georgian NATO Response Force interoperability in the context of military-to-military relationships. The exercise focuses on unified land operations and is based on NATO standard operating procedures.

“Normally the Army can get JP-8 but when they go to other countries where it’s not produced, there is a need to come up with other solutions to produce the fuel with multipurpose additives,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mandy Allen, NCOIC of the petroleum laboratory at the Defense Logistics Agency Europe and Africa. “We’re here to train these Soldiers so that they can accomplish their mission in Georgia in the most effective and efficient manner possible.”

The primary difference between Jet-A1 and JP-8 in that Jet-A1 does not contain the three additives found in JP-8, namely the corrosion inhibitor/lubricity enhancer, the fuel system icing inhibitor, and the static dissipater additive.

“For Soldiers needing JP-8 to accomplish the mission, we came out to validate the proof of principle here on the ground and test their knowledge of how to mix the additives to the fuel,” said Sgt. 1st Class Balenda Towolawi, a petroleum operations NCO assigned the United States Army Europe G-4. “What these Soldiers did today will be able to be put into play during Noble Partner in May.”

The ability to convert readily available Jet-A1 fuel into the mission essential JP-8 expands the operational capability of fuel-handling units within the 16th SB, specifically 515th Trans. Co. and 240th QMSC.

• Date Taken: 03.31.2016
• Date Posted: 04.04.2016 07:57
• Story ID: 194278
• Location: KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, DE