Photo By Lance Cpl. Triton Lai | A scanned photo of U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswains Fuels Chief Raoul Bolduc, during his...... read more read more
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On a typical day, Raoul Bolduc, the fuels distribution operations officer and fuels civilian of the year for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, fields phone calls and receives emails while dealing with the transport, storage and refueling of aircraft and storage tanks.
The American Petroleum Institute is an internationally-recognized fuels organization that highlights personnel of all branches of military service who have made significant contributions to fuels operations and fuels support.
“Bolduc is dedicated to his job,” said Thomas Lynch, a fuels system operator on Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni. “He’s just so into his work, and everything he does is to better fuels, not just Iwakuni [fuels] but fuels as a whole.”
Lynch said he’s worked with Bolduc for years, and throughout that time Bolduc has taught him everything about fuels operations and, if unable to teach on a subject, gave Lynch references so he could study and find out for himself.
Buldoc’s fuels career started in 1986 when he joined the U.S. Navy.
“I was out of high school, and I had a job in a factory like everyone else,” said Buldoc. “It was pretty hot and hard work.”
Buldoc decided the factory life wasn’t for him. He decided to venture out and join the U.S. Navy.
“I took a test and two weeks later I was gone. The Navy flew me to a ship, lined us up and went by numbers,” said Buldoc. “Back in the old days, you just stood in a line and they gave you a number which insinuated what your job was.”
Buldoc, luckily, was given the number four. He had no knowledge as to what a four was or what they did. All he knew was that four was his number.
“Then they sent me to another ship,” said Buldoc. “Since I was a four, I was fuels and that’s how my career started.”
Buldoc’s fuel journey took him from ship-to-ship and station-to-station, spending years perfecting his craft in fuels operations.
“I’ve seen a lot of things, good and bad,” said Buldoc. “It’s been a crazy adventure going out to all these different ports such as Australia, Bali, the Middle East and so much more.”
After spending eight years in the Navy, Buldoc finished a tour in Cuba and became a chief petty officer. His new rank meant new responsibilities as he set off to lead fuels operations instead of working within it.
“After I’d been in the Navy for eight years, I took a test to become chief and passed on my first attempt,” said Bolduc. “It’s been a crazy roller coaster ride, but at least it was in fuels. I love my job.”
Buldoc continued to push himself throughout his career, even after retiring from the Navy in 2001.
Buldoc was a fuels operations truck driver refilling aircraft when he was given the chance to apply for the job as the fuels distribution operation officer.
“You never want to stay where you are, you always want to move up,” said Buldoc. “I did it for more responsibilities and more opportunities to fix things in fuels and make it better.”
Buldoc helps other bases by offering his advice and receives calls from Hawaii, Okinawa and other air stations on multiple occasions.
“I am happy we were able to keep him here to have him be a pivotal point of the processes and procedures at fuels operations,” said Mark Desanders, director of fuels operations at MCAS Iwakuni. “I was impressed at his hard work and assistance with his team.”
Ever since Buldoc started working at MCAS Iwakuni, he has contributed to the air station’s ability to fuel several variations of aircraft quickly, efficiently and safely.
“As a director I am blessed,” said Desanders, “We can’t do it without him or his team.”
When Buldoc expected it the least, Desanders recommended him for the Fuels Civilian of the Year award, wrote the recommendation, then sent it up the chain of command. U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, then endorsed the recommendation and sent it to Marine Corps Installations Pacific, which in turn sent it to the Navy Supply Systems Command.
Desanders was ultimately the one to notify Buldoc that he won the award.
“Fuels doesn’t flow without him,” said Desanders. “He was able to lead all operations without any fails, as safely and efficiently as possible.”
Buldoc still plans on retiring in fuels operations, and nothing else. He says he refuses to let go of what he loves.
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2019 01:26 |
| Story ID: | 325068 |
| Location: | IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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