Logistics Readiness Squadron displays expert professionalism during Northern Edge 15

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division Public Affairs
Story by Sgt. Brian Ragin

Date: 06.26.2015
Posted: 06.26.2015 16:48
News ID: 168343

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Airmen with the 773rd Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) provide a loud but humble approach to help run Northern Edge 15 from its start on June 15.

An Alaskan Command-hosted exercise, Northern Edge brings approximately 6,000 members from across the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy together for joint training.

“We are the quiet professionals,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Alexander Devoe, 773rd LRS commander. “We make it happen. That’s our success.”

The commander added that their quiet professionalism requires no rewards or recognition. To know they’ve succeeded requires only one thing.

“[We’re] not looking for any accolades. We are not looking for anything,” said Devoe. “It just puts a smile on our face when we hear the noise [of aircraft taking off]. That just means we have been successful.”

The 773rd LRS is composed of many different forces with each one contributing in its own way to the logistical operations.

“The distribution flight has three main sections in which two have active roles in the [Northern Edge] exercise; a cargo movement section and transportation vehicle operations section,” said Distribution Flight Commander 1st Lt. Nicholas Bosch, a 25-year-old Madison, Connecticut, native.

According to Bosch, his flight prepared more than 75 you-drive-it vehicles and government leased vehicles for units inbound to borrow so they have the ability to travel the area on their own. Fifteen Airmen distributed nearly 500 tons of cargo, which was moved around the base in support of Northern Edge for inbound and outbound cargo. This movement included an airborne operation that hosted roughly 200 U.S. Army paratroopers from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division stationed here on JBER.

“We have two missions in our flight: Air drop mission and core aerial port function,” said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Jayne Crisman, a 23-year-old Combat Mobility Flight commander hailing from Wagner, South Dakota. “We have members providing redeployment support at the Joint Mobility Center, supporting eight aircraft to include 239 tons of cargo.”

“There are two members at Fort Wainwright doing joint inspections on 80 tons of cargo,” said Crisman. “And members doing cargo deployment functions support at Eielson Air Force Base, [which supports] 320 tons of cargo; and members at Fort Greely inspecting five aircraft on 120 tons of cargo.”

Because airdrop support is the main function of the flight at JBER, Northern Edge provides an opportunity for Airmen to get training on aerial recording to ensure cargo is air worthy.

“Whether [the cargo] is landing with the airplane, or it departs the aircraft prior to landing on a drop zone, these guys are making sure the cargo is safe,” said Devoe.

Logistics plans are ran by 2nd Lt. Clary Stewart, a 23-year-old Phoenix native, who is one of many points of contact for the Northern Edge exercise.

“All coordination came from (Stewart’s) wing,” said Devoe. “Cargo, personnel, and coordination throughout the exercise are vital to every mission and [the logistics plans] flight is the brains of the operations as far as the logistics piece.”

One of the most important responsibilities during NE15 belongs to the handful of Airmen who maintain the fuel distribution during the exercise.

“Fuel impacts logistics the most,” said Devoe. “What they have been doing here in a day during [this exercise], they do in a month during regular operations.”

Utilizing R-11 refuelers that are manned and operated almost non-stop for the exercise, the fuel distribution section scheduled everything on JBER to include all flights going on during Northern Edge and as well as maintain home station aircraft, which allowed for the distribution of about one million gallons of fuel a week.

“These flight commanders provided the guidance and leadership contingents just shy of 600 airmen in the logistics readiness group that provide the bulk of the effort.” said Devoe.