HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Airmen from the 635th Materiel Maintenance Group’s Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources Base, here, loaded Ariel Bulk Fuel Delivery System equipment to assist training efforts at Little Rock Air Force Base, AR, Aug. 7.
ABFDS equipment is used to deliver fuel to trucks, bladders and aircraft.
Staff Sgt. Dustin Cournoyer, 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuel laboratory noncommissioned officer in charge, and Staff Sgt. James Brooks, 19th LRS fuels accountant, traveled from Little Rock to Holloman on a C-130J Super Hercules early Friday morning.
This is the first time BEAR Base has shared ABFDS equipment with the 19th LRS; however, it may not be the last.
“We rarely see this equipment unless we’re downrange doing refueling exercises,” said Cournoyer. “Getting hands-on training with the equipment will make us far more effective at using it.”
The equipment will be used to train total force warfighters on unique refueling capabilities, increasing Air Force readiness.
“What’s special about the equipment is it’s capable of fueling an aircraft with the alternate capability equipment,” said Staff Sgt. Mitchell Daebelliehn, 635th Materiel Maintenance Support Squadron NCO in charge of war reserve material. “We only have some at BEAR (Base), but we don’t have a team capable of using it.”
The Air Force now has a team capable of training and utilizing the ABFDS equipment, increasing its global reach.
“If we have a vehicle or aircraft in a remote location without access to fuel, we now have the ability to take care of them,” said Daebelliehn. “This equipment essentially turns a C-130 into a mobile gas station.”
Through the efforts of many involved, the equipment transfer was completed quickly and effectively.
“This mission really highlights the collaborative efforts of our Air Force,” said Capt. Elizabeth Scarberry, 635th MMG operations officer.