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Limited resources stress fuel conservation in desert

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melissa B. White
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Complicated supply processes in war zones can limit available resources at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, and many other bases down range. Supplies can be limited anywhere from peanut butter and toilet paper, to fuel and other mission-related commodities in the AOR.

During times of fuel shortages, units can place limits as to whom can fuel up vehicles, when they fill up, and how much fuel they can get. The 451st Air Expeditionary Wing even drafted a letter deeming 85 unleaded vehicles as mission-essential out of the total of more than 700 vehicles in the wing's inventory if it would become necessary to use.

"It was crazy ... one guy was out there for three hours trying to get fuel," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Wiley, 451st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO in charge of vehicle management and analysis. "It took such a long time because the line was so long, and then when you got there, the fuel guys asked each person a whole bunch of questions to prove that they were mission essential and needed the fuel."

Even though the fuel limitation isn't a concern right now, what's one thing Airmen can do about this situation?

"Walk," said Sergeant Wiley, who is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah. "If we use up the fuel faster than it gets delivered, we could end up in the same situation. We should prepare for it now by conserving now rather than reacting when we already have a problem."

Though walking was the main point brought up for conserving fuel, taking care of vehicles could play a major role in stretching each liter of fuel a little farther. Vehicles should be serviced regularly, to include changing the air filter which gets dirty easily in the dusty environment, and being aware of the type of fuel each vehicle requires - unleaded or diesel.

"You'd be surprised, but it happens more frequently than it should that people are putting the wrong fuel in their vehicle and it ends up going to waste," said Sergeant Wiley. "It's already happened four times this week where they have to come over here to siphon it out, and it's only Thursday. People should just be more aware of what type of fuel they're putting in a vehicle - it's written right on the cap."

Another conservation tip is to not use vehicles just for sheer convenience; they should be used for mission-related matters. When Airmen get a chance, they should carpool or take a shuttle to cut down the number of vehicles being used for small amounts of people.

"It's costing a lot for people who are fueling up and not supporting the mission - which is to get planes off the ground," said Master Sgt. Nate Ortiz, 451st ELRS vehicle management superintendent. "The people who really need the fuel are those who are towing aircraft, unloading the aircraft, or doing anything involved with the aircraft, and then those who are going on outside-the-wire missions."

On a base that some may say is busting at the seams with 30,000 people, fuel consumption is a major issue. From the period of January to August, the 451st ELRS vehicle fleet doubled in size, but the air expeditionary wing is only one small portion of the total number of units on the base.

"Every time I turn around, it seems like a new unit is standing up," said Sergeant Wiley. "It's like a miniature city here, and the congestion is horrible. Sometimes I think people could get places a lot quicker by walking than by driving."

Sergeant Wiley also said that the more we conserve fuel, the less likely we are to need as much of it, which, in turn, would put the people who are trucking it here at less risk.

"Just try to ride bikes or walk more," said the sergeant." You're conserving, and it's healthy for you."