8 fuels Airmen surpass million-gallon mark in 4 months

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  Eight Airmen in the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight here each pumped more than 1 million gallons of JP-8 jet fuel in just four months.

Fuels Airmen fill up aircraft ranging from C-5 Galaxies to the Army's UH-60 Black Hawks and everything in between.

"That's a big feat considering it is a big deal when the stateside bases with hydrant systems do that in five months," said Master Sgt. William Muck, the 332nd ELRS fuels management operations section chief.

To hit the monumental milestone, it starts with a call from a requesting aircraft, then a fuels distribution operator takes one of 11 fuel trucks to top off the parked jets on the flightline.

"Balad AB is unique as it has multiple airframes stationed here," Sergeant Muck said. "While filling an F-16 (Fighting Falcon, which takes roughly 1,000 gallons of fuel per service) they can get another call to fill up a helicopter, (about 350 gallons) on the other side of the field."  

Collectively, the fuels management flight has pumped more than 15 million gallons of fuel in four months.

"When I got here, I set a personal goal to issue 1 million gallons. I worked the hardest I could to accomplish that goal," said Airman 1st Class David Alexander, a 332nd ELRS fuels distribution operator and one of the eight Airmen who surpassed the goal. "I can take personal pride in knowing I accomplished what I set out to do."

Airman Alexander and his fellow million-gallon Airmen earned a certificate signifying their accomplishment.

"It's just one way we can recognize them for the hard work they go through -- being out in the cold and wet climate, going back and fourth filling their trucks, all in a 12-hour period ensuring the mission is complete," Sergeant Muck said.

The other Airmen to reach the million-gallon milestone are: Staff Sgt. Erin Palmer, Senior Airman Kurtis Toycen, and Airmen 1st Class James Donnelly, William Ellzey, Alan Tombleson, Johathon Peabody and Shaun Brodin. 

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