Cryogenics preserve the mission

Published April 4, 2014
By Senior Airman Hannah Landeros
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- Cryogenics is known around the world for preserving human remains to be reborn in another era. As interesting as a new life may be, the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's cryogenic shop has another purpose for this science.

Serving as the U.S. Air Forces Central Command's sole area of responsibility cryogenics hub, there are six Airmen working 24/7 with cryogenic products, also known as liquid nitrogen and oxygen.

Cryogenics Airmen maintain nearly 60 tanks for cryogenics support. The cryogenics tanks are used to store and ship liquid nitrogen and oxygen to forward operating locations throughout the AOR in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Liquid nitrogen is used for maintenance and liquid oxygen is used by aviators, which is needed when reaching high altitudes.

"We are fortunate to receive the resources we need locally," said Master Sgt. Nicholas Smith, 379th ELRS cryogenic NCO in charge, deployed from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., and a Cabool, Mo., native. "Other bases in the AOR do not have this capability so they depend on us to provide their cryogenics."

After the cryogenics Airmen receive a liquid oxygen shipment, a sample is taken and sent to the Air Force Petroleum Agency Fuels Laboratory for testing.

"The samples are tested for purity to ensure that we are only issuing the on-spec liquid oxygen," said Smith. "The area lab is checking to make sure that the product is at least 99.5 percent oxygen and not a mixture of other gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide."

Once the cryogenics has been approved by the laboratory, the 379th ELRS's cryogenic shop fills tanks of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen and ships them out.

"We work hard day and night to keep the mission going," said Airman 1st Class Jerome Bloom, 379th ELRS cryogenic technician, deployed from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and a Connersville, Ind., native. "Without oxygen, aircrews can't fly at high altitudes to complete their mission."

The 379th ELRS cryogenic shop stores and supplies these products providing nearly 200 gallons of liquid oxygen a day to aircrafts at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and nearly 10,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and 800 gallons of liquid nitrogen each month throughout the AOR.

"Providing cryogenics for aircrews isn't the only service we provide. We also supply cryogenics for medical purposes," said Bloom.

The nitrogen is used in wart bottles to freeze off warts, explained Bloom. Medical facilities use the oxygen for breathing apparatus and also to fill transport liquid oxygen converters for medical evacuation missions.

"Seeing the direct results of how my job plays a role in the mission makes me want to do my absolute best in performing my job," said Bloom. "Knowing that the work I do here helps other service members throughout the AOR gives me a great sense of pride and accomplishment."