POL: Without us, pilots are pedestrians

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Timothy Boyer
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  While the Heavy Metal series has been focused primarily on maintainers and the things they do to ensure mission success, there could be no mission without the 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels shop, more commonly referred to as POL, an acronym for petroleum, oils and lubricants.

"Our career field plays a vital role because fuel is the very source that allows us to complete the missions around the world," said Staff Sgt. Justin Neal, 60th LRS fuel distribution supervisor. "Without our Airmen being efficient, knowledgeable and safe while delivering fuel, planes would not be flying nonstop as they do now."

A team of 87 active duty, nine civilian and six contractor fuels operations technicians support the global mobility of Travis by providing around-the-clock availability of contaminant-free jet fuel that meets the most stringent requirements, said Airman 1st Class Zachary Courtney, 60th LRS fuels operator.

"Everyone who finds themselves needing fuel on the base depends on us -- especially civil engineering, the fire department, security forces, the commissary and all the flying squadrons," Courtney said. "Essentially any building with a generator, government vehicle or equipment that requires fuel uses our service."

POL services an average of 60 million gallons of JP-8 fuel annually, he said. Without this fuel Travis and transient aircraft couldn't meet Air Force and commercial needs.

As critical to the mission as POL is, there also are dangers involved.

"When dealing with fuels such as JP-8, diesel and Mogas (similar to unleaded) there are inherent dangers such as the risk of explosion," Neal said. "On a day-to-day basis, you also deal with the possibilities of inhalation, absorption and consumption of fuel."

With minimal manning and a higher operations tempo, the job can get stressful at times, he said. But it is nothing professional Airmen can't take care of.

"Every day can bring new challenges, equipment breaking down or environmental and safety factors that require the ability to make brink of the moment decision making skills at all levels of operation and management," Courtney said.

While POL can be a challenging job at times, it is all worth it to Courtney who summed up the impact his job has on the mission.

"Without us, pilots are pedestrians."