Photo By Sgt. Stephen Campbell | U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air...... read more read more
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U.S. service members and Japanese Master Labor Contractors (MLC) with Station Fuels earned the 2017 Excellence in Naval Fuel Management Award at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 18, 2018.
The unit gave the award to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, the commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni, to present to the air station.
Even though Station Fuels won the award, it was a station-wide effort from customers by refueling air and ground vehicles year-round that provided the elements for the unit to win the award.
“Everyone as a whole played a part in us earning the award,” said Mark DeSander, the fuels director with Station Fuels. “I think it is better that the air station holds the award because it is really about MCAS Iwakuni. Everything from fueling aircraft, to generators and even customers fueling at the gas station played a part. We are issuing more fuel than ever to the air station.”
The unit earned the award because it was nominated and selected as the best in the Marine Corps. It is the only unit that accounts for all fuel issued out by using stats to track how much fuel is needed for each location.
“Iwakuni is in a unique position right now because we are growing,” said U.S. Navy Chief Robert De Soto, the leading chief with Station Fuels. “I also think with Iwakuni having the (most fuel), it was only fitting that we are the best.”
De Soto said it really puts things into perspective with every accomplishment they’ve achieved.
The unit’s accomplishments include three U.S. and Japanese funded construction projects that expanded their capabilities. One such project being a KC-130J Super Hercules’ hydrant system that provides medium bodied refueling operations to aircraft that include helicopters and the MV-22 Osprey.
“The accomplishments that I have seen in my two years here has been phenomenal,” said DeSander. “Just having hard working employees and service members, we come together as a team; we gel like a family to get the mission accomplished. A lot of people don’t understand that we are a 24-hour, seven-day a week operation.”
DeSander said as an organization, the unit is comprised of predominately MLCs, Marines, sailors and United States Civil Service civilians.
“We ‘play ball’ like there is no difference,” said De Soto. “I think setting that baseline is why we succeed in doing what we do. Training everybody to a standard and setting the foundation for them knowing their jobs allows us to do what we do, and we’ve just done it so much and so long that we’ve earned recognition for what we do.”
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.19.2018 22:10 |
| Story ID: | 273788 |
| Location: | MCAS IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Station Fuels gives award of excellence to air station, by Sgt Stephen Campbell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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