New course helps Airmen get combat ready

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Airmen graduating from the fuels apprentice course are now two to three months closer to combat-ready status after arriving at their first base, said course instructors here.

Students are learning how to set up a mobile gas station and other duties during a new seven-day contingency course, said Staff Sgt. Michael Ostrander, an instructor with the 366th Training Squadron.

A key part to becoming mission ready is the capability to set up a mobile gas station for military vehicles at a deployed location, he said.

The setup includes up to four 500-gallon fuel bladders, hoses, a pump and nozzles. The goal is to have gas ready for U.S. or coalition forces within minutes after hitting the ground, Sergeant Ostrander said. The gas-and-go setup can deliver 50 gallons of fuel per minute.

Before this final section of training was added to the course, Airmen would receive training on the device at their home base and probably not see the setup until they deployed, Sergeant Ostrander said. Now, they are familiar with an integral part of mobilization before they reach the field.

Mobile gas stations are one of the first items sent in to a deployed area, Sergeant Ostrander said.

“This setup provides fuel once (Airman) are on the ground,” he said. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training News Service)