Fuels Flight wins Air Force award

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Fuels Management Flight recently captured the American Petroleum Institute Trophy Award honor for best fuels flight in the Air Force.
The victory marks the third time Travis has achieved the feat. 

"The award is the result of the flight focusing on training, job proficiency and excellence on a daily basis," said Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Cabral, the flight's enlisted leader.
The flight captured the API honor for fiscal year 2008 between Oct. 1, 2007, and Sept. 30, 2008. 

On a daily basis, jet fuel demand at Travis averages 200,000 to 300,000 gallons a day, making Travis the second-busiest refueling operation in Air Mobility Command and the fifth-busiest in the Air Force. 

That is more than 71 million gallons of fuel pumped in the fiscal year, a time when more than 8,000 refueling operations occurred with zero mishaps on the flightline, as well as no fuel spills or launch delays. Flight leadership attributed the unblemished record to the proficiency of their personnel, and conducting 1,560 spot check evaluations of refueling operations and equipment, 300 percent more than the Air Force Instruction requirement. 

The flight also scored well during inspections, exercises and reviews. The Travis Fuels Laboratory Team was chosen as an "outstanding team" during the Unit Compliance Inspection in March 2008, an inspection for which the wing as a whole achieved an "excellent" rating. Also, the flight boasted three "strengths" and an "outstanding performer" during the Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Program Inspection, directly contributing to the Mission Support Group's "outstanding" rating. 

Another inspection, the Environmental, Occupational and Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program, found zero violations and a positive finding in the flight during its visit, and the entire, 98-person flight was selected as "outstanding performers." 

What also helped distinguish the flight was its creativity. One dimension of its innovation was staffing a waiver through AMC to leave its hydrant system pumphouses unmanned during peak workloads, allowing those personnel to refuel aircraft on the flightline. 

Additionally, a mobile lab was created to test fuel on site, improving contamination detection and mediation. 

Senior Airman James Williams works in the lab, testing the fuel for dryness, cleanliness and suitability for use. He said it is important to keep the fuel free of contaminants including water, which can be deadly because it freezes at high altitudes. 

Airman Williams said he was thrilled to be a part of such an honor. 

"This is a good step at the beginning of my career," Airman Williams said.
Another way in which the Fuels Flight shined was the creation of AMC's only Elite Refueling Team. The eight-person crew wears distinct blue uniforms and handles the fueling of aircraft for distinguished guests such as former President Bush's Air Force One and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. During the time period for the award, the DV refueling team handled more than 60 refueling operations. 

During a time of speedy operations tempo and financial belt tightening, a Defense Energy Support Center audit of the flight's $42 million account led to zero findings. The auditor stated it was "the best account I've seen in 30 years." 

Additionally, while overseas, members of the Fuels Flight pumped millions more gallons during deployments to Afghanistan, Kuwait and Turkey, serving the mission downrange.
"This honor is a testament to the dedication of the 98 people in the flight," Chief Cabral said. 

In order to capture the award, the flight had to first secure the victory at the AMC level, which it did, beating out 11 other bases for the distinction. This phase involved a nomination package and a day-long inspection which resulted in the Travis' fuels flight garnering the William N. Penton Award for top fuels flight in AMC. 

Next, the team competed at the Air Force level. Because of budgetary concerns, site visits are not possible in this phase of the competition. Instead, the flight's Staff Sgt. Eric Miller, who has a degree in video production, coordinated and prepared a six-minute video for the judges. One which showcases operations at Travis and includes messages of endorsement from Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the AMC commander, and base commander Col. Mark Dillon. 

"They were obviously impressed by how we do business," said Staff Sgt. William Stapp, who works in the flight's support office. "We didn't get this by luck." 

Sergeant Stapp said because of the award's prestige in the fuels community and the traveling nature of the winning trophy that it reminded him of the Stanley Cup, the prize for the victor of the National Hockey League championship. 

In a fashion similar to Lord Stanley's prize, the winning team's name is engraved on the award. Travis' name appears twice previously, winning in 2004 and the award's inaugural year, 1966. 

The award recognizes excellence in management, innovation, operations, fuels information services, compliance and more. 

Chief Cabral, who arrived at Travis in December 2007, is still amazed by the list of accomplishments, accommodations, honors and inspection success the flight amassed during the eligibility year of this award. 

"I've been in fuels for my entire career," Chief Cabral said. "Out of my nine bases ... I've never seen an operation clicking on all eight cylinders, like we did in 2008." 

Lt. Col. William Mann, the 60th LRS commander, echoed Chief Cabral's sentiments. 

"The men and women of the fuels management flight support the war fighters every day," Colonel Mann said. "What sets this team apart from others in the Air Force is that they find new and innovative ways to do business every day to enhance their mission support. It's an honor to be their commander."