Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst -- Airmen with the 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight probably don’t lay awake at night wondering what their impact on the Joint Base MDL mission is. All they have to do is look up to see their efforts in action.
Without the hard work and dedication these POL (petroleum, oil and lubricants) Airmen put in across the base every day, we simply would not have planes in the air.
"We’re the ones that supply the lifeblood of the plane; the ones that get this giant monster out to where it needs to go,” said Senior Airmen Darrien Smith, 87th LRS fuels distribution operator. “Without us, a lot of this base wouldn’t even be moving"
It is not uncommon for FMF Airmen to move more than 200,000 gallons of fuel in a day. To put that in perspective, an average swimming pool is 19,000 gallons.
A lot of time and effort goes into this massive logistics operation. The Airmen at the 87th LRS FMF work 12-hour shifts to ensure the tireless mission demands of the joint base are met.
"We support everybody," said Staff Sgt. John Houston, 87th LRS fuels distribution NCO in charge. "Twenty-four seven, 365 days a year, somebody is always here."
The job doesn't end when they're not refueling planes. The POL Airmen must also ensure the safety and operational capability of their 24 fuel trucks, test nine different kinds of fuel and manage the two on-base civilian gas station's fuel supply.
"A lot of people think that we're just the guys that drive a giant truck out and fill a plane," said Smith. "We do a lot, lot more. There’s a lot more going on in the background."
The POL Airmen also assist the Air Force's sister services around the tri-base.
"Whether it's a KC-10 Extender from the 305th Air Mobility Wing or a CH-53E Super Stallion from the Marine Aircraft Group 49, FMF Airmen supply the fuel that keeps the mission moving.