BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --
Loadmasters assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift
Squadron from Littlerock Air Force Base, Arkansas, completed three back-to-back
redeployments of R-11 fuel trucks from an undisclosed location in the Air Force
Central Command area of responsibility, March 15.
As the Air Force reduces its footprint in the region the
ability to forward deploy mission critical equipment to key sites throughout
the AOR is more imperative than ever before. Airmen here are not only learning
to do more with less, they are becoming experts in the art of innovation.
“There’s little room for error when it comes to the R-11,”
said Senior Master Sgt. Jason Buttke, 774 EAS loadmaster. “The mere size of it
compared to the cargo compartment of the C-130J makes it a challenge. You have
to watch clearances on all four sides of the vehicle, and because of the weight
of the axels we have a very small window to park the vehicle in the aircraft
without exceeding structural limitations.”
Despite the complexities involved with transporting heavy
equipment, missions on par with that of the R-11 redeployment will likely
become routine for loadmasters operating out of the 455th Air Expeditionary
Wing.
“With far
fewer Forward Operating Bases across the country to use as a base of
operations, the ability to support the warfighter has grown increasingly more
difficult,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Pate, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness
Squadron commander. “That is especially true when supporting combat forces
that are reliant upon rotary lift assets for tasks such as movement of assault
teams or rescue forces. Establishing an expeditionary refueling
capability closer to the planned area of operations maximizes the capabilities
that we bring to the fight, including quicker movement of forces and decreased
response times for Quick Reaction Forces, medical evacuation or Personnel
Recovery, and resupply.”
The ability
of the R-11 to support a myriad of aircraft for a prolonged period of time
makes it an ideal candidate for forward deployment and an operational linchpin.
“The R-11
is a 6,000-gallon aircraft refueling truck,” said Staff Sgt. William McCrae,
455 ELRS Fuels Service Center controller. “It is extremely versatile and can
issue fuel to anything from C-12s to C-5s. Fuel is the lifeblood of the Air Force.
Without fuel, planes don’t fly; without fuel, pilots are pedestrians.”
Airmen of
the 774th have no intention of allowing that to happen. Less than half an hour
elapsed from wheels down at the pick-up site to upload completion.
“They made it look easy,” said
Buttke. “We spent a lot of time prepping the aircraft and discussing our
loading operations to include where people would be positioned, calls that
needed to be made and clearances that needed to be observed prior to even arriving
at the airfield. Having a good plan prior to seeing the load made the
task seem easier than it really was. Having chains and tie-down equipment
prepositioned and knowing the restraint criteria helped expedite the job of
securing the load for flight.”
The diligence and adaptability
demonstrated by the 774 EAS crew during the R-11 three-peat mission is representative
of the Air Force’s unwavering commitment to support the fight, as well as the
warfighter.
“Supporting operations in Afghanistan today requires innovative
approaches to provide the world-class capabilities and support that the
warfighter has come to expect from the Air Force,” Pate said. “The ability
to rapidly establish expeditionary operational sites has mitigated the decrease
in U.S. FOBs and allows partnered operations across the country. The Air
Force will continue to support the fight and the warfighter, wherever needed,
despite the challenges presented by a reduced support infrastructure. The
movement of R-11s to the place of employment is an example of our commitment to
provide solutions, despite the challenges, to enable U.S./Afghan partnered
operations.”