FORT HUNTER LIGGETTT, Calif. – Pumping gas is something most people do, their only thought to get back on the road and to their final destination. In the Army, pumping gas isn’t so simple. A lot goes into ensuring military vehicles are provided that fuel to make it to their final destination.
The 728th and 192nd Quartermaster Companies are responsible for bulk and retail fuel here at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., for Combat Support Training Exercise 91 12-01.
“Our mission here is to make sure all vehicles, generators and light sets have fuel,” said 1st Sgt. Steven Jirousek, 192nd Quartermaster Company, first sergeant, from North Ridgeville, Ohio. “We’ve also been tasked to go on convoys, sending a tanker to refuel those vehicles on the road.”
The companies, working together, have sites at Base Camps Milipitas and Schoonover and Camp Roberts. They also run missions between them as well as the Ammunition Supply Point and Base Camps Ward and Tusi.
“Theoretically, if we were in a theater of operation we would have fuel points on all the [forward operating bases], rather than drive on the roads every day,” said Jirousek. “It’s more of a realistic training.”
Jirousek said having operations spread throughout the training area is “normal operations” for his unit because at home station the unit is spread out. He also contributes the success of operations here to his leadership.
“The leadership that I brought with me, working for me is probably the best out there,” said Jirousek.
On average, the fuel sites distribute between 4,500 to 7,500 gallons per day. The estimated use for the entire exercise is 100,000 gallons.
The amount of fuel distributed per day depends on the sizes and missions of the convoys for the day and the heat. During hotter days, more fuel is used, according to Jirousek.
Retail fuel is fueling of smaller vehicles, such as humvees. Retail fuel uses less than 100 gallons of fuel. Bulk fuel is the fueling of larger vehicle, including the tankers. Bulk can also be used to refuel trucks in large convoys.
A retail fuel point is set up similar to a normal gas pump, with a few differences. Due to the type of fuel used, a petroleum fuel specialist fills the tank while wearing an apron and safety goggles. Another soldier monitors the fuel gauge on the tanker.
The bulk fuel point can receive or distribute fuel. It is set up with hoses that connect to the tanker and a machine that gauges and pumps the fuel into a bladder for storage. There is also another line of hoses for distribution, which connect to the bladder, a pump and finally connect to the tanker or nozzle to fill larger vehicle.
The 192nd is currently in its ready year, which means they can be called to deploy at a moment’s notice, so these operations have created a refresher for their troops.
“A lot of our soldiers haven’t touched any of this since [advanced individual training] so they’re learning the equipment, so instead of just doing [preventive maintenance checks and services] on the trucks and tankers as we do at battle assemblies, they are actually getting hands-on,” said Jirousek. “Plus, we just changed over to a new bulk fuel system, so they’re setting that up dry, learning the elements, the pieces and how everything works.”
Many of the senior leaders of the company are attending military schools so Jirousek sees this time as an opportunity for his junior leaders to step into those shoes.
“They went from last year being told what to do, to telling [others] what to do and why they need to do it,” he said.
In addition to their mission, the companies are also participating in convoy training because, according to Jirousek, in theater “you never know; it could happen at the drop of a hat.”
| Date Taken: |
07.24.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
07.25.2012 00:57 |
| Story ID: |
92100 |
| Location: |
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CALIFORNIA, US |
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163 |
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This work, Fill it up: Quartermasters keep CSTX 91 fueled, by SFC Debralee Lutgen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
