Deployable capabilities increase as 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron activates

Published Nov. 20, 2013
By 2nd Lt. Christopher Bowyer-Meeder
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Bering Straits Logistics Services and Defense Contract Services Inc., two logistics service providers for the 325th Logistics Readiness Division, were notified Oct. 18 of changes to their contracts as a result of a new and expanded 325th Fighter Wing mission.

The 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron is slated to stand up April 1, 2014 and commence full logistics operations by Oct. 1, 2014. With no squadron currently in place, civilian contractors fall under the 325th LRD. The activation of the 325th LRS will provide deployable Airmen to directly support the needs of the 325th LRD.

"The primary reason for this is to have deployable capabilities to accompany the deployable jets the wing will gain during the next year," said Col. Christopher Holmes, 325th Mission Support Group commander.

The 325th LRS will provide critical support to the incoming aircraft, as well as to the flying training squadrons, aircraft maintenance units, flying operations and combat support functions.
They will also support war plan execution actions, in-garrison readiness operations, various mission-essential support functions and will develop logistics personnel critical to supporting Air Force mission requirements.

BSLS, the supply and transportation service provider, will end its contracted service on Sept. 30, 2014.

"It is unfortunate that we have to migrate away from our contractors who have done such great work in their time at Tyndall," Holmes said. "However, due to the constantly evolving state of the mission, we have to adapt as necessary."

The contractors being phased out understand the decision.

"It's not a matter of service," said John Wyatt, BSLS program manager. "It's a matter of a strategic decision to bring a combat-coded wing here to Tyndall."

According to Wyatt, a little more than 150 people will feel the impact of the phase-out. He expects about 90 percent of the BSLS employees will simply retire. For the remaining 10 percent, he believes they will move where the jobs are.

"BSLS has a website that advertises vacancies in the company," Wyatt said. "They update that weekly."

For the fuels operations, DCSI will find a modification and de-scope on its contract to add active duty airmen to the distribution section of fuels operations.

"Between now and Feb. 1, 2014, we will begin to integrate with the fuels service provider," said Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Dobbertin, 325th LRD superintendent. "They will be showing us how they do things, and we'll begin taking over programs and training to prepare the incoming Airmen. Fuels operations will become staffed completely by military."

Contractors will not be completely removed from fuels operations, however. According to Sergeant Dobbertin, DCSI will run the bulk storage operation, aligning Tyndall with most other bases Air Force-wide. Additionally, DCSI will remain in charge of the fuels lab, and the fuel service center.

For the BSLS employees, their last duty day will be Sept. 30, 2014, and DCSI fuels distribution element will be fully turned over approximately Feb. 1, 2015.