Fuels management flight keeps aircraft in the fight

Published July 25, 2011
By Master Sgt. Mary Davis
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Bagram Airfield has some of the busiest air frames in the Air Force, but without fuel they can't fly, fight and win. The 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight brings fuel to the fight to keep Bagram's mission "responsive and precise."

"We are responsible for all jet fuel, liquid oxygen and nitrogen to sustain the U.S., coalition and mobility airlift missions at Bagram Airfield," said Senior Master Sgt. James Calhoun, fuels management flight chief. "We ensure aircraft are fueled and ready to support troop and cargo movement, close-air support, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance missions, medical evacuation and fallen comrade support."

The flight performs petroleum and cryogenic product receipt, storage and issue operations, as well as refueling coordination with supported agencies. On average, the fuels team performs a refueling operation every 10 minutes, 24-hours a day with limited personnel and equipment, said Calhoun, who hails from Owensboro, Ky.

"We work hand-in-hand with the Army, contractors and Defense Logistics Agency-Energy to ensure the joint fuels mission at Bagram is successful," said Calhoun, who has deployed six times during his 19-year career and is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. "I have an amazing group of Airmen who are highly motivated and ready for whatever challenges lie ahead."

One member of Calhoun's highly-motivated team is Staff Sgt. Janine Williams-Wood, a fuels service center controller from Hughesville, Md. As an FSC controller, she receives fuel requests and chooses the type of refueling vehicles and operators.

"FSC controllers must have an accurate understanding of the flightline and know where the aircraft and refueling operators are at all times," said Williams-Wood, who is stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. "The best part of my job is hearing and seeing all the aircraft that take off to accomplish the mission. Just knowing I assisted is a great feeling."

Airman 1st Class Johnson Barnett plays a part in the refueling mission as a distribution driver.

"On average, a driver refuels 25 or more aircraft and pumps from 25,000 to 30,000 gallons of fuel per day," said Barnett, a first-time deployer stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan. "We are sometimes on the flightline up to 11 hours straight, refueling F-15s, F-16s, C-130s and transient aircraft."

Since each aircraft has different refueling procedures, the crew chiefs get everything ready once the refueling trucks pull up, Barnett said.

"We work closely with the crew chiefs and make sure they connect the refueling hose to the aircraft correctly," said Barnett, who hails from Ewing, Ky. "They tell us how much fuel to load, and afterward, we fill out paperwork for the transaction."

The previous fuels team distributed more than 48 million gallons of aviation fuel to 26,000 aircraft in six months, supporting the busiest combat airfield in the area of responsibility.

Although Barnett and his team have big shoes to fill, he is still excited about his first deployment at Bagram.

"It makes you feel great because you are supporting the mission," he said. "This is the reason I joined."

The flight chief echoed Barnett's sentiment.

"The new rotation hit the ground running and took up where the old crew left off," Calhoun said. "To me, the biggest reward is knowing we refuel the aircraft that transport our wounded brothers and sisters to receive medical care and support the aircraft that put bombs on target."