36th LRS Airmen support Valiant Shield

  • Published
  • By Airman Whitney Amstutz
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) --  Airmen from the 36th Logistical Readiness Squadron stepped up their game during Valiant Shield 2010 by acting as master planners for all support, vehicle coordination and aircraft fueling needs.

During Valiant Shield, an additional 1,300 personnel were here, and the 36th LRS Airmen ensured each participant had a place to stay and adequate means of transportation and communication.

"The (36th) LRS has been involved in Valiant Shield planning from the beginning," said Lt. Col. Jason Campbell, the 36th LRS commander. "Since September 2009, representatives from the (36th) LRS have attended three (Pacific Command) conferences in preparation for the exercise. We worked throughout the year with joint units to capture requirements via the reception checklist in order to be prepared for the influx of personnel."

Once an estimated number of incoming personnel was available, 36th LRS Airmen took the information to the squadrons on base that would be impacted.

"We compiled those numbers and coordinated with other units to figure out what we could and could not support," Colonel Campbell said. "In order to provide sufficient transportation, a wing government vehicle recall was executed. We were then able to provide 83 vehicles to visiting Airmen, and a total of $47,000 was saved on rental fees."

In addition to these obligations, the 36th LRS successfully supported the fueling and defueling requirements of more than 100 visiting aircraft.

"The fuels flight has exceeded the average fuel issued per month in only six days," Colonel Campbell said. "On the first day of the exercise, more than 400,000 gallons of fuel were pumped. That amount is enormous and (more than) what we usually pump over the course of a month."

Though fueling may seem like a simple feat, it can quickly become complicated when dealing with such a large quantity of aircraft. The 36th LRS Airmen coordinated with 36th Operations Support Squadron officials to determine airfield management and parking arrangements.

"We had to determine how we were going to fuel them," said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Absher, the 36th LRS flight chief. "The setup determines whether we're going to fuel them in the hydrant pits or use trucks, and the sheer numbers involved made things really tight and left no room for flexibility. Planning is so important in an exercise of this magnitude."

Not only do the 36th LRS Airmen play a key role in integrating and sustaining additional forces here, they are also responsible for the redeployment of Valiant Shield participants.

"Redeployment is also a large part of the exercise," said Capt. Chris Jacobson, the 36th LRS installation deployment officer. "We began planning the redeployment three days after the exercise started. You have to make sure that everyone leaves the base efficiently.

"This has been an eye-opening experience," Captain Jacobson said. "We're used to working with Air Force units on a day-to-day basis. For this exercise, we worked closely with the Navy, Marines and civilians. We had never coordinated with many of these groups before, but it was a rewarding experience."

Valiant Shield, which is the largest of all Pacific Command exercises, provides the opportunity for tactical and weapons system experimentation. It is the most realistic Operations Plan exercise conducted by the 36th Wing and encompasses more than one million nautical miles of training space with aircraft exceeding 100.