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Multiple million-gallon milestones made in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq --  It's not uncommon to see an Airman pump one million gallons of JP-8 jet fuel annually, especially if they are stationed at a "heavy" base outfitted with a fuels hydrant system, capable of delivering an unlimited amount of fuel to jets.

Reaching that milestone in just four months, however, is worthy of bragging rights, which is the case for eight Airmen in the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight.

Using 6,000 gallon fuel trucks, eight Airmen crossed the million-gallon mark during their four-month rotation here.

"That's a big feat considering it is a big deal when the stateside bases with hydrant systems do that in five months," said Master Sgt. William Muck, 332nd ELRS fuels management operations section chief.

Hitting the monumental milestone starts with a call from a requesting aircraft, then a fuels distribution operator takes one of 11 fuel trucks to top off the parked jets on the flightline.

Fuels Airmen fill up aircraft ranging from C-5 Galaxies to the Army's UH-60 Black Hawks and everything in between, said Sergeant Muck.

"Balad is unique as it has multiple airframes stationed here," said Sergeant Muck. "While filling an F-16, which takes roughly 1,000 gallons of fuel per service, they can get another call to fill up a helicopter, which takes about 350 gallons, on the other side of the field." 

Collectively, the fuels management flight has pumped more than 15 million gallons of fuel in four months.

"When I got here, I set a personal goal to issue one million gallons. I worked the hardest I could to accomplish that goal," said Airman 1st Class David Alexander, a 332nd ELRS fuels distribution operator and one of the eight Airmen who surpassed the goal. "I can take personal pride in knowing I accomplished what I set out to do."

Airman Alexander and his fellow million-gallon Airmen can show their pride with a certificate signifying their accomplishment.

"It's just one way we can recognize them for the hard work they go through -- being out in the cold and wet climate, going back and fourth filling their trucks, all in a 12-hour period ensuring the mission is complete," said Sergeant Muck.

The other Airmen to reach the million-gallon milestone are; Staff Sgt. Erin Palmer (deployed from Holloman AFB, N.M.), Senior Airman Kurtis Toycen (deployed from Holloman AFB, N.M.), and Airmen 1st Class James Donnelly (deployed from Little Rock AFB, Ark.), William Ellzey (deployed from Little Rock AFB, Ark.), Alan Tombleson (deployed from Little Rock AFB, Ark.), Johathon Peabody (deployed from Holloman AFB, N.M.) and Shaun Brodin (deployed from Little Rock AFB, Ark.).