Fueling, armament Soldiers help Kiowa helicopters get to the fight

Photo By Command Sgt. Maj. Ryan Matson | Soldiers give pilots the thumbs up after refueling and arming an awaiting Kiowa Warrior helicopter at the 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment Sabre Forward Arming and Refueling Point on Forward Operating Base Warrior by Kirkuk, Iraq.  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

03.03.2006

Courtesy Story

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KIRKUK, Iraq - One of the most important parts of aviation missions in Iraq, which is often over looked, is the role of the Soldiers who refuel and arm helicopters at the Forward Armament and Refueling Point.

As any 92F, or fueler, will tell you, "The aircraft isn't going anywhere without gas."
At Sabre FARP, pilots tell the armament specialists what ammunition they need for the upcoming mission, and the armament team quickly and carefully loads that ammunition.
"The goal is to get the aircraft in and out within three minutes," said 1st Lt. Tony Pankuk, the officer in charge of 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment's Sabre FARP on Forward Operating Base Warrior near Kirkuk, Iraq. "We act like every aircraft coming in is in the middle of a firefight, regardless of the situation."

Soldiers are on hand in the building along the FARP and run out to meet incoming helicopters with the fuel, rockets and .50 caliber ammunition in tow.
Pankuk's FARP is a busy place. He said that the Soldiers at the FARP refuel between 25 and 40 aircraft, mostly the squadron's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters, each day. They have already pumped more than 750,000 gallons of fuel since arriving in Iraq in September.

Sergeant Joshua Moeller, 96th Aviation Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, is one of the 15Js, or OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter armament repairman, who works at the FARP. He said a 15J would work both at a FARP, as well as on a flight line.

"Our job is two-fold. We work both on the Forward Armament Refueling Point (FARP) as well as on the flight lines. On the FARP, we hot refuel, and re-arm aircraft, so that they can get in and out of the fight, turn around get their fuel, get their armament, go back out and do the job," Moeller said. "On the flight line, we also do all the repairs that have to do with anything electrical and avionics, all the armament subsystems, to make sure they function properly at all times."

Moeller said he enjoys working on the FARP, because responding quickly to refuel aircraft is a rush.

"I like the FARP the most, because you're there under the turning rotor blades, it's intense -- you get an adrenaline rush," Moeller said. "You're running back and forth to make sure the fuel gets in and the armament and the aircraft get back into the fight. It's definitely the most exciting part of the job."

Moeller, from Corona, Calif., works with three other 15Js on his shift -- Spc. Philip Miller of Tooele, Utah; Spc. Chris Howell of Palm Bay, Fla.; and Spc. Chad Nguyen of Traveler's Rest, S.C.

While it may not appear to be the most glamorous job in the world, Moeller said he knows the job of the fuelers and armament Soldiers is extremely important.

"I love my job because you can see the benefits as to what's happening on the battlefield firsthand," he said. "Even though I may not be flying in the air with the aircraft, I'm affecting the mission. I can still see the affect we're having on the battlefield."

• Date Taken: 03.03.2006
• Date Posted: 03.03.2006 14:07
• Story ID: 5587
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ