60th LRS unit keeps watch over vehicles

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Katie Batchelder
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  In the Team Travis world of air power, the members of the 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations think of ground movement.

Running 24-hour operations in three shifts, seven days a week, the mission of vehicle operations includes transporting air crews to and from pre-flight and post-flight locations, delivering aircraft parts, managing the government drivers license program and transporting passengers and cargo for processing during exercises and real-world operations.

Vehicle operations also provide support to community-related events such as parades and other events in Solano County. They have supported the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and frequently go on temporary duty assignments with the Air Force Band of the Golden West. On top of that, they provide training to the wing for bus and motor vehicle testing, qualification and certification and complete roughly 40 to 50 each year.

More than 9,000 government-owned vehicle licenses and 79 GOV's are managed by vehicle operations, for official use only, to ensure mission essential tasks can be completed by all base personnel.

There are 35 people in vehicle operations qualified to operate roughly six types of vehicles and material handling equipment, to include various sizes of tractor trailers, forklifts and buses.

On a busy day, members of vehicle operations can be tasked with up to four jobs, ranging from manning the office to operating machinery.

In 2010, members from the shop drove 28,000 accident-free miles. In an average year, the staff completes more than 13,000 air crew runs, roughly 2,000 aircraft part pickups and deliveries, about 300 protocol runs and manages more than 3,000 "you drive it fleet" vehicles.

"Our shop is unique because we are manned with 100 percent civil service employees," said Nick Dyson, 60th LRS chief of vehicle operations. "Everyone here has an incredible amount of experience and uses their capabilities to the fullest."

When expectation exceeds capability, members of vehicle operations are trained and qualified to handle whatever task is assigned, no matter how complex.

"It is because of the people we work with that we are able to complete our mission and contribute so greatly to the overall mission," said Jim Adams, 60th LRS vehicle operator. "It's about integrity, listening and working together."