Logistics make the world go round

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Solomon Cook
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Logistics, as defined in the dictionary, are the things that must be done to plan and organize a complicated activity or event that involves many people. Additionally, it is the aspect of military science dealing with the procurement, maintenance and transportation of military material, facilities and personnel.

At Tyndall, there is a squadron in bright yellow Friday spirit shirts that facilitates these needs and makes logistics its business -- the 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron, widely known as "The Phoenix Nation".

The 325th LRS initially stood up 19 months ago on June 2, 2014. Since that time, the Phoenix Nation has been recognized throughout Team Tyndall and Air Combat Command numerous times for its outstanding work.  The 325th LRS is currently competing at the  Air Force level as the Air Force's number one overall LRS after earning ACC's 2015 Warren R. Carter Logistics Effectiveness Award.

"Simply put the 325th LRS literally makes all things operational logistics happen for Team Tyndall and the regional combatant commanders we are tasked to support," said Lt. Col. Anthony Mullinax, 325th LRS commander. "The squadron is divided into four flights and one section including the deployment and distribution, material management, vehicle management, and petroleum, oils and lubricants (POL) flights, as well as the Commander's Squadron Compliance and Analysis Section.

"In the short time since the Phoenix Nation's inception these deserving Airmen received awards at every major level, and now are competing against the best in the business at the highest levels of the Air Force," he continued. "The performance of our Airmen essentially equates to a major professional sports expansion team making the championship game in their first year of existence which is unheard of.  This is an absolute testament to the tireless efforts of the professional Airmen serving our Air Force in this squadron."

Additional recognition earned by the Phoenix Nation during 2015 includes an ACC LRS best unit effectiveness inspection result during Tyndall's 2015 ACC UEI, Department of Defense's number one joint small cargo movement team, and finally the 2015 Drake Trophy given by the American Petroleum Institute as the command's number one POL Flight.  Additionally, the 325th LRS directed Tyndall's first combat aviation deployment in more than 33 years.  "Achievements such as these, coupled with being the Air Forces newest LRS are nothing less than absolute blessings in acknowledgement of the efforts of our Airmen," Mullinax added.

As the resident experts in all things logistics, the five flights of the 325th LRS are actually broken down into further sections..

"The mission of the 325th LRS is to provide expert combat ready logistics Airmen and support anywhere, anytime," said Master Sgt. Roger Stewart, 325th LRS distribution flight chief. "To ensure we can meet this demand we have all the appropriate sections."

Stewart later gave an overview of the various flights and sections.

Deployment & Distribution Flight:
Air Transportation plans, schedules and processes passengers and cargo for air movements, loads and unloads passengers, cargo and baggage moved on mil and commercial contract aircraft.

Logistic Plans performs and monitors logistics planning activities including base support, war reserve material processes, deployment, redeployment, reception processes and support agreements.

Traffic Management uses military and commercial transportation to move personnel, eligible dependents, material and property.  Receives and packages, classifies cargo for shipment and storage.

Vehicle Operations performs Air Force's organic ground transportation capability for passengers and cargo using a multitude of vehicles in direct support of mission requirements.  Personnel operate light and heavy duty vehicles.

Fuels Management Flight:
Personnel provide fuel support for the 325th FW, directly supporting the F-22 Raptor, T-38 Talon, 641 vehicles and 100 organization tanks and generators.

Material Management Flight:
This flight consists of three sections: customer support, maintenance support and asset management.  Personnel manage the $126 million operating stock warehouse.  They stock, store, issue, and receive supplies and equipment. 

Vehicle Management Flight:
Personnel provide cradle to grave management of assigned vehicle fleets for 325th FW.

Operations Compliance/CC Support Staff Flight:
Inspects all work centers and provides support directly to the commander.

From being the AF's newest LRS, to earning major awards and bringing the heat in its first year, the professionals of the Phoenix Nation continues demonstrating that at the heart of every well-oiled machine, logistics is the lifeblood of combat success.