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POL fuels airpower

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron employed nearly 20 experts to replace a 3-ton fuel bladder here Thursday.

Volunteers from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing joined the experts - members of the Petroleum, Oils, and Lubrications Flight - as they gathered in the POL area at the start of their shift to complete the replacement. The previous bladder had reached the end of its shelf life, which is generally three to four years, according to Tech. Sgt. Tommy Goss, the noncommissioned officer in charge of bulk storage. This is the last scheduled replacement for the next 12 months.

A fuel bladder is like a giant balloon made of strong, pliable material capable of holding 200,000 gallons of jet fuel. The bladder sits in a square-shaped berm, measuring approximately 82x82 feet. Here at this location, there are a number of bladders maintained by the 17 bulk storage personnel. The bladders line the fuel storage area end to end for nearly a quarter of a mile.

That fuel is the lifeline of the mission. "If we loose our [fuel] capabilities, we can't push fuel to the flight line," said Staff Sgt. Ronald Anderson, bulk storage supervisor. "No fuel ... no mission."

Sergeant Anderson is deployed here from Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Having spent his first deployment in Kuwait in 2005, he said missions like this provide a more immediate perspective on the impact his job has on the mission.

The bladders, though flat when unrolled, are inflated with the precious JP-8 or jet fuel. When movements or maintenance are required, the fuel can be sucked out to whichever level is necessary for repair, or all the way down to provide mobility. Periodic inspections are conducted and logged on a historical data sheet kept on each individual bladder for the life of the bag.

Sergeant Anderson and his team check the bladders each morning and periodically through the day. "It's obvious if you have a leak," he said. "I check the bags every hour while they're filling or deflating."

Leaks can be repaired with patches, but they're not always that simple. "When a tear starts on a seam, it goes fast," said Sergeant Goss. "The force of the fuel can bend rebar; it can easily kill a person. That's why it's so important to maintain these bags and stay on top of shelf life and inspections."

The team's dedication to safety and ensuring mission success is evident in the turn out of so many folks to get this job done. "It's a team effort," said Lt. Col. Tanya Kubinec, 380th ELRS commander, who was on hand for the operation. "This is not summer camp, this is serious business." Colonel Kubinec is one month into her 12-month deployment here. "Safety is our number one priority while fulfilling the mission. Our folks are top notch; they're out here in the extreme heat making a difference every day."

Sergeant Anderson watches over the process with a keen eye. "He's a motivated guy, always putting his best forward," Sergeant Goss remarked. "He wants to leave this place better than he found it; he's got a great headstart."

This location may be a far cry from Sergeant Anderson's hometown of Enid, Okla., but the noncommissioned officer said he has no regrets about his deployment here. "Every day it's something different, something new. The Air Force has led me to see different parts of the world and different people in their native environments. I enjoy it and I have the full support of my family back home."

He said his wife, Lisa, has a thorough understanding of deployment responsibilities. "As a Reservist, she understands military commitment. We both volunteered to serve our country and that's what we're doing."

Sergeant Anderson's family can be proud on this day, as this mission was a success. This undertaking will not likely be witnessed again here for another year, at which time most of the 380th personnel will have departed and a new team of folks will be in place.