Fuels Airmen from the 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron held a training opportunity March 1 for 14 soldiers from Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

The Wainwright soldiers often send fuel samples to Eielson to be tested by the Airmen because they don’t have the same capabilities as the Eielson laboratories.

“We wanted to focus on total force,” said Senior Master Sgt. Chad Smith, the 354th LRS fuels operations superintendent. “We have different objectives than the Army. We wanted to show them the different aspects of the fuels management team and see the differences from service to service.”

Tech. Sgt. Zachary Pletcher, the 354th LRS NCO in charge of fuels distribution, explained most elements of the fuels flight were present at the training.

The various sections include the fuels service center, preventative maintenance, fuels distribution, fuels laboratory and fixed facilities. Each section had an Airman present to teach the soldiers what they do.

“They were impressed with the differences,” said Smith. “They have certain sections that do different things, whereas we do everything that encompasses fuels management as one goal, one team. Our Airmen are trained all the way through to work in each different section.”

Throughout the training, the Airmen could see the vast differences between the two branches and gained a better understanding of how they help the Army accomplish its tactical mission.

“We have a more technical mission,” Pletcher said. “They were very impressed by the technical side. Their fuels sections are different from one another. The lab is different from the ground fuels and the aviation section is separate from both of those.”

During the discussion time, Pletcher explained it was enlightening to learn what the soldiers do on a daily basis and how they handle their fuels operations. The bouncing back and forth from branch to branch was a great opportunity for both sides to learn how each completed their respective missions.

“Everyone in the fuels management team is a subject matter expert,” said Master Sgt. Archie Obiacoro, the 354th LRS fuels operations section chief.

Smith went on to explain the soldiers were most impressed that even the newest Airmen on the team are a subject matter expert at what they do and with the amount of responsibility the Airmen receive right from the start.

“Senior Airman Andre Brown is in charge of quality control of 80 million dollars’ worth of fuels,” Smith said. “It touched them that these Airmen are so technically trained and competent.”

While speaking with the soldiers, Staff Sgt. William Hunter, a 354th LRS fuels distribution supervisor, said one of the biggest things the soldiers noticed is that just one Airman goes out in a fuel truck on a delivery.

“Airman 1st Class Kyle Grow is an operator,” Hunter explained. “When he goes out, it’s just him. When the Army sends soldiers out, it’s the operator and another body to complete the delivery. They were amazed that we give Airmen who are still relatively new to the Air Force the responsibility to single handedly take care of our mission.”

The training served to break down barriers between the two branches.

Smith explained even though the two bases are relatively close in distance, fuels personnel weren’t sure what each other did to the fullest extent until now.

“The lab deals hands on with the Army,” said Senior Airman Andre Brown, a 354th LRS fuels laboratory technician. “I never realized how separated they were. Each battalion sends us samples, so we get to know the soldiers. They talk with us about searching for better equipment even though a different section on Fort Wainwright has the specific equipment they might need. I think they learned that things can be simplified.”

Making personal connections is a good asset to both services, Pletcher said. It puts both sides at ease and makes interactions more comfortable.