TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Airmen of the 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight were recognized for their resourcefulness and hard work in winning an Air Combat Command award.
The 325th LRS Fuels Management Flight won the Drake Award in recognition for being considered the best fuels flight in ACC with a judging period from October 2014 to September 2015.
“I honestly wasn’t surprised that we won,” said Master Sgt. Robert Seaman, 325th LRS fuels superintendent. “I would have been more shocked if we didn’t win. Our Airmen have done an amazing job since we were first established in 2014.”
The fuels flight was originally established in April 2014 when the unit transferred from being managed by contractors to being primarily run by active duty. After the flight’s establishment, it became eligible for the Drake Award less than half a year later, and despite having both manning and training challenges, they came out on top.
“When we first started the flight, we had no training program or standards to train our Airmen,” Seaman said. “We had to get together and establish a completely new training curriculum for the new Airmen who were coming out of technical training.”
The Airmen of the fuels flight were able to excel despite the challenges, and excelled at the various categories judged for the Drake Award, including direct mission support for their station, management of the flight and quality of life for Airmen.
“A good part of us making the training program was that we had to focus on the basics,” said Tech. Sgt. John Ferguson, the flight’s NCO in charge. “We all grew in our job knowledge, both NCOs and new Airmen. This was all thanks to getting back into the fundamentals.”
Some of the accomplishments of the fuels flight include the cryogenics maintenance test, which only four fuels flights in the Air Force were given. Seaman said that of those flights, Tyndall was the only one to complete and succeed at the assessment. The test was an evaluation of the storage of liquid oxygen and the logistics behind keeping it safely secured. This resource is vital to the maintenance of many aircraft components.
Another accomplishment was assisting in the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group’s Weapons Systems Evaluation Program. The WSEP tests the weapon systems of fighter jets from all across the world. The fuels Airmen support this mission by providing fuels quality checks and distribution for all the different jets that fly through Tyndall AFB as part of the program.
The fuels Airmen are vital to getting jets off the ground and maintaining a strong presence in the air. Without their expertise in maintaining quality fuel standards, the F-22 Raptors of Tyndall would not dominate the air like they do today, said Seaman.
“I’m proud of what our Airmen have accomplished,” said 2nd Lt. Reisha Lizama, 325th Fuels Flight commander. “They are the most deserving and hardworking people I’ve ever met, and it’s amazing to be a part of this flight.”