YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen continuously train to complete their mission in a variety of ways, ensuring operations are not stopped even when the primary means to complete a task are unavailable.
The 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron petroleum, oils and lubricants facility tested an alternate capability to receive fuel during the alternate resupply exercise at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 17, 2016.
The unit received 40,000 gallons of JP8 fuel from eight tank trucks, normally received by train cars arriving through the rail system.
"It's important for us to remain proficient at receiving fuel this way because it's possible that our primary way of acquiring fuel may not always function properly," said Senior Airman Joseph O'Donnell, 374th LRS fuels facility technician. "If we weren't competent at receiving fuel through multiple ways, our ability to keep our mission going will be performed at a slower rate."
The training began with the fuel trucks arriving at the fuel yard from Yokohama. Once the trucks reached the station to transfer the fuel, the Airmen performed visual inspections of the JP8 prior to activating the pumps to deliver the fuel. Samples of the fuel were also taken to the laboratory to test for potential contaminants.
Once the process is complete, the fuel is provided to Yokota's aircraft enabling the pilots to complete their missions of swiftly providing airpower throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific Region to defend the U.S. nation, support America's partners, and promote a free and stable world.
"It was great for us to learn this alternate way of receiving our fuel in case our primary resource goes down," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Shelly, 374th LRS fuels laboratory technician. "This was my first time sampling a tank truck, and it helped me learn different ways to sample fuel when receiving it. If I go to another base, I will be able to take this experience with me and be able to effectively work in case the other facilities receive their fuel by tank trucks."