LRS Airmen put to test in FARP tryouts

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Amongst the darkness and stillness of the night, the C-130 Hercules set down, wheels skidding on the dirt clearing that made up the Middle Eastern terrain.

As the dust settled and the plane came to a halt, the Airman looked through his goggles over the lowering cargo ramp into the digital green-tinted desert and began to sprint, 200-pound fuel hose in-tow, to refuel the awaiting Air Force helicopter.

Within half an hour, the refueling was complete and both aircraft took back to the sky, leaving almost no trace that either had ever even been there.

This is just another night in the life of a fuels special operations Airman, a job for which eight more Airmen endured grueling Forward Area Refueling Point tryouts June 17.

During the tryouts, 18th Logistic Readiness Squadron Airmen looking for the thrill of fuels special operations were put to the test physically in a sort of obstacle course, and academically in a written test, before going before a board of the current team members to compete for the highly sought-after job.

"This job provides a lot of capabilities we wouldn't normally have for fuels operations, extends our reach for aircraft and [lets us] go places we wouldn't normally be able to go," said Staff Sgt. Jason Lane, NCO in charge of fuels special operations. "The point [in the tryouts] is more about the team's willingness to go 'all out.' That's why we have the physical portion - it shows your mental toughness, because it's really, really hard, and it shows you're willing to not quit.

"If they help us reconfigure the cart, it shows they're willing to help the team," Sergeant Lane continued. "The aptitude test portion shows they've had the incentive to do the research about the job and what it entails. [The tryouts overall allow] us to meet all the members so we have a more cohesive team."

Though the job is easily defined as an essential wartime capability, FARP has made its presence in the world as a humanitarian aid as well, especially in support of Operation Tomodachi, where U.S. military assets greatly assisted in the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the island of Honshu, Japan, March 11.
It's that capability and prestige the 18th LRS Airmen trying out were pushing to be a part of.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Airman 1st Class Mitchell Bonander, 18th LRS fuels distribution operator who broke Kadena's record for the obstacle course with an impressive 4-minute, 55-second completion time. "There are only 47 members in the Air Force [who] actually do it, and I just want to be a part of that top, elite team. I think [the tryout] went pretty well. I almost passed out at the end, but I gave it my all, and that's the best I could do."

Currently, there are only five Air Force bases in the world that support FARP operations, adding to the prestige of the job. Despite having so few, Sergeant Lane said the capability is essential to Air Force contingencies and operations.

"There are only five bases that do it," Sergeant Lane said. "It's prestigious because you have to try out, you have to be selected, you have to be on flying status, you are held to a higher standard and you have to be prepared for a deployment at any time, but the missions you do are just amazing."