Photo By Cpl. Mark Stroud | Capt. Scott D. Graniero (center left), the commanding officer of Engineer Company,...... read more read more
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TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - "Bulk fuel is a much needed [military occupational specialty],” said Staff Sgt. Jay J. Jenkins, bulk fuel chief, Engineer Company. “When we are out here planning and implementing, it provides a good picture of how important [bulk fuel] is.”
Marines with Enineer Company, CLB-4, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, took advantage of an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of bulk fuel specialists when they constructed and manned a forward fuel farm at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., beginning Nov. 27 during Enhanced Mojave Viper.
The Camp Lejeune-based Marines of Engineer Company are attached to CLB-4 to provide general engineering support.
EMV is the battalion’s final training exercise before deploying to Afghanistan early next year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
“[The bulk fuel specialists’] role in Afghanistan is to maintain the fuel farms, ensure proper accountability and to receive and dispense fuel,” said Capt. Scott D. Graniero, commanding officer, Engineer Company. “There is no organic bulk fuel capability within the [Regimental Combat Team] … and we bridge that gap by providing bulk fuel support.”
Engineer Company will use the fuel farm as a training tool for the bulk fuel specialists and to support training operations in the area, according to Jenkins. They will man the fuel farm until Dec. 10, he added.
“The fuel farm will provide more efficient access to fuel for [1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II MEF] and the units attached to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines,” said Graniero. “They will be able to maintain their training operations instead of having to come back to Camp Wilson to refuel.”
A small contingent of Marines and sailors, including corpsmen, utilities and communications Marines and ten bulk fuel specialists, manned the fuel farm.
“They constructed the site in 48 hours with the assets on hand,” said Jenkins. “It was a heavy workload for the Marines, and it will benefit them in the future in case we need to move to a new site and construct a fuel farm rapidly.”
The fuel farm stored 12,500 gallons of fuel, with a maximum capacity of 60,000 gallons, and could fuel the full range of Marine Corps tactical ground vehicles, according to Graniero.
In Afghanistan, the bulk fuel specialists will be organized into small groups of two to three Marines and deployed to forward operating bases in support of logistics and security operations, according to Jenkins.
“What the [bulk fuel specialists] learn here, they will implement in theater,” said Jenkins. “Because they will be working in such small groups, it is important that they are familiar with all aspects of the job.”
The construction and operation of the fuel farm was also an opportunity for its fuel chief to witness the progression and growth of his Marines.
“When I was an instructor, I taught some of these Marines when they came through [military occupation specialty] school,” said Jenkins. “Seeing them out here and witnessing the progress they’ve made and how they’ve grown really shows the cycle of how the Marine Corps works.”
The next stage of growth for the bulk fuel specialists of Engineer Company will take place in Afghanistan, where they will provide the fuel that keep CLB-4 operations running.
“The bulk fuelers are always saying that, ‘if the fuel don’t flow, the proud don’t go,’” said Graniero. “Without fuel and without the capability to store fuel forward of the main logistical hubs, operations are slowed down. Everything relies on fuel.”
| Date Taken: | 11.27.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2011 03:32 |
| Story ID: | 81061 |
| Location: | TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 195 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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