PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- When Air Force reservists deploy it’s often alongside other military branches with similar missions. Challenges come into play because the processes and equipment are rarely the same. To tackle this issue, nearly 100 Soldiers from the Army’s 59th Quartermaster and 247th Composite Supply Companies out of Fort Carson came to the Reserve wing here to learn Air Force ground refueling processes from the 302nd Logistics Readiness Squadron’s fuels department earlier this month.
“They approached us about two months asking if we could train their Soldiers, which is a great opportunity for both of our organizations.” said Master Sgt. Paul Franklin, the 302nd Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Flight superintendent.
U.S. Army Capt. Rachel Campion, the 59the Quartermaster Company commander, said the idea came from a junior enlisted Soldier after returning from a deployment where he worked with Airmen regularly, but felt unprepared because he was unfamiliar with Air Force processes. Once she heard the idea Campion began coordinating with the 302nd Airlift Wing to select a date for training.
“This isn’t just about us teach them,” said Franklin. “We are already working on a plan to get the same type of training from them to learn their processes as well. If we can do this right, it will make us members of both branches more effective during the next deployment.”
The two parties are planning to have another similar training in the coming months at Fort Carson to teach the 302nd LRS Fuels Flight Reserve Citizen Airmen Army ground refueling processes and the use of their equipment.