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Airman breaks Bagram's million gallons fuel record

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan --  In the three months since the current AEF rotation arrived, the 31-member POL shop has pumped nearly 14 million gallons of fuel. Most of the operators have pumped an average of 700,000 gallons each. Only two have surpassed the million-gallon mark - one doing it in record time.

Senior Airman Ramon Negron, deployed from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., recently pumped one million gallons of fuel in 61 days, breaking the previous Bagram record by three days.

As a fuels distribution operator in the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here, Airman Negron is responsible for refueling all U.S. Air Force aircraft assigned to Bagram, as well as transient aircraft.

"I feel that the mission we have here is very important in the rebuilding of this country, and I personally support it," said the San Juan, Puerto Rico, native.

The long hours and busy tempo is not a major challenge for this first time deployer.

"The most challenging thing about pumping fuel here is being away from my family," he said.

The soft-spoken Airman did not set out to break any records - he was just doing his job. After a month and a half of pumping fuel, his supervisor approached him and told him that the record was within reach. On July 8, making his 533rd fuel run in two months, Airman Negron hit the million gallons mark and broke the base record.

"All my coworkers congratulated me. They were really happy for me," he said. "Ideally, we would like for everyone to pump one million (gallons) or even more, however, not many people hit this milestone."

His supervisor, Tech. Sgt. John Lineaweaver, said he wasn't surprised when Airman Negron broke the record.

"He is always first to volunteer when a refueling request is called-in," said Sergeant Haynes. "This award highlights the high level of performance he always gives."

Now that he holds the record, Airman Negron said he plans on taking time to go to school and finish his degree. If his record is broken, he won't be upset.

"This is a team fight and if someone breaks my record I will be as happy as they were for me," he said. "I would really encourage anyone to attempt it, but always making sure they do it safely."