Airman instructs Kabul's first POL course

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Thirty-three days of technical instruction in petroleum, oil and lubricants doesn't seem like a daunting task. Throw in a language barrier, limited training aids and an incomplete curriculum and anyone might start to question whether or not it will get finished.

However, despite the obstacles, Kabul, Afghanistan's first Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants class graduated Aug. 6.

The course's instructor, Master Sgt. Tracey Wolfe, a fuels complex instructor assigned to the 364th Training Squadron here, taught his seven Afghan students various subjects including information safety, vehicle inspection, facility inspection, forms and fueling operations through two blocks of instruction over a 33-day period.

According to Sergeant Wolfe, the curriculum was only 50 percent complete when he arrived.

I completed that portion as well as conducted outside-the-wire fuel tours to get my Afghan instructor up to speed before the first class commenced, he said.

Sergeant Wolfe's goal was to teach his Afghan students and also mentor the Afghan instructor who is scheduled to start teaching in September.

Master Sgt. Jefferson Guillory, the 364th TRS fuels flight chief, said there were many challenges that came with instructing the petroleum, oils and lubricants course.

"One challenge is the language," Sergeant Guillory said. "Master Sgt. Wolfe received approximately 10 days of Dari language training at Fort Dix, N.J. He teaches with a translator in the classroom."

Sergeant Wolfe said another difficulty was ensuring everyone's safety.

"Take all your training very seriously (because it) saves lives," he said. "Taliban insurgents have repeatedly tried to disrupt our efforts through improvised explosive devices and rocket attacks. Your training gets you through those stressful times. Have faith in your fellow Airmen, because (they) are all you have in the combat zone."

Sergeant Guillory said Sergeant Wolfe even risked his life for the sake of efficient instruction.

He took them to an off-post fuels facility for training on two occasions, he said. They used two operational Oshkosh (vehicles) for daily mission support operations and for the driving issue objectives.

Sergeant Wolfe said although the class he instructed was small, the impact those students will have is tremendous.

"This is very significant," he said. "The Afghan National Army Air Corps is making monumental milestones everyday in developing air power for their country. This was just a piece of that overall puzzle. Of my students, two are working at the fuels shop here at Kabul. The other five were sent to conduct fuels operations in Kandahar, Afghanistan."

"The Afghans literally have nothing; no public works, lack of food (and) medicine, et cetera," Sergeant Wolfe continued. "(Now they) have started flying all Afghan aircrew missions since I have been here, to include aerial (medical evacuation) missions. None of that would be possible without the fuels operators on the ground."

Sergeant Wolfe saw to it that his students received the best training he could give despite the risks involved because he supported the mission he was tasked to fulfill.

"Everything we do, every single day, has a positive impact, not only on the people, but the mission as well," he said.

He said he feels this is truly the chance of a lifetime for any servicemember.