Logistics key to establishing deployed NATO mission operations

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Petosky
  • 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
CAMPIA TURZII, Romania --  Logistics Airmen of the 404th Air Expeditionary Group have worked day and night to prepare the airfield here for Operation Noble Endeavor. 

F-15 Strike Eagles from the 492nd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, will augment Romanian forces in an air policing mission over the skies of Bucharest during the upcoming NATO Summit April 2 to 4. 

Between 81 truckloads of ground freight and nine aircraft missions, more than 500,000 pounds of cargo and hundreds of passengers have been received by a team of four Airmen. 

"It was amazingly hectic," said Staff Sgt. Nils Stinson, 404th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron traffic management craftsman. "There were trucks literally lined up and down the street when we got here, and there wasn't even a forklift. I'm still in awe that we got it all done. I sit back and say, 'Wow, that really happened?' We received everything from everywhere." 

Sergeant Stinson is one of four traffic management and air transportation Airmen deployed here. For some, it was their first deployment to a bare base environment. 

"It was a huge learning experience," said Staff Sgt. Heather Koutnik, 404th EABS air transportation craftsman. "I have never seen a tent city. There was no loading dock, no K-loaders. You have to get creative with just a forklift." 

One of the biggest challenges was finding a fuel storage point with a large enough capacity to service a busy fighter mission, according to Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Weyrauch, 404th EABS logistics support chief. 

"A lot of times for deployments like this, we just use our fuel in the host nation's fuel tanks," he said. "An F-15 with conformed fuel tanks takes about 5,000 gallons of fuel. Since there were only two 50,000 gallon tanks located at the airfield, we had to airlift a 200,000 gallon fuel bladder from (Southwest Asia) to augment our capability." 

Once the earthen retaining barrier for the fuel bladder was constructed by civil engineer heavy equipment operators, petroleum, oils, and lubricants specialists starting taking fuel deliveries. 

"At Lakenheath, everything is delivered via pipeline, not trucks," said Staff Sgt. Jeff Marquart, 404th EABS fuels lab technician. "This is a whole different operation, and not something we're used to seeing everyday. It's a constant learning environment, even for those who have been to Iraq and Afghanistan. Still, it's pretty amazing to see a site go from open field to fuel system to F-15s." 

Romanian Air Force Airmen accommodated the POL troops at every turn.
"One thing that caught us off-guard was the diesel fuel requirement," Chief Weyrauch said. "The Romanians loaned us a truck and 5,000 liters of diesel when we really needed it, on our honor that we would pay it back when we received ours. They really have helped with anything we have needed." 

Campia Turzii is home to the Romanian Air Force's 71st Air Base. A squadron of MiG-21 fighters will also fly as part of the NATO air policing mission. The Romanian Air Force has allowed U.S. Airmen the use of land for tent city, water utilities, fuel systems, and office space for administrative functions. They have even gone so far as to recharge vehicle batteries, build triangular metal fire alarms for tent city, and provide supplemental fire extinguishers. 

"When you come into a situation like this, everything is a moving target," Chief Weyrauch said. "You have to have the right stuff at the right time. Sometimes we put the cart before the horse, but POL, supply, TMO and air transportation have done a truly amazing job considering their limited numbers. Every time our team goes somewhere, they are our unsung heroes." 

Sergeant Koutnik chalks the success up to teamwork. 

"We hit the ground running," she said. "As soon as one truck was finished, another two would pull up. We were pulling 15- to 16-hour days alongside the civil engineers. Now things are going very smoothly, and we're looking at redeployment already. It's definitely a one team, one fight mentality. 

"If there's a problem, there are 20 people jumping up to help."