No water, no fuel, no gas, no problem!

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mozer O. Da Cunha
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Airmen from the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron utilities flight work daily to maintain and perform safety checks on fuel and utilities systems, keeping Barksdale ready to fight.

By maintaining more than $38 million worth of equipment, the utilities flight provides fuel, water and natural gas needed to run air and ground vehicles, Barksdale facilities, training simulators and equipment.

"On a daily basis we are out checking and maintaining the utility systems on base," said Tech. Sgt. Jon Crandell, 2nd CES water and fuels systems NCO in-charge. "Keeping these systems running is necessary to maintain our nuclear deterrence capacity."

With a daily consumption of more than a million gallons of water, the utilities Airmen are busy making sure Barksdale's water needs are met.

"We have to make sure that all the water systems are functioning the way they are supposed to in order to guarantee day-to-day operations," Crandell said. "We need drinking water to live. We need to supply facilities with water for hygiene. Sewage also has to go somewhere. If not it just piles up."

Additionally, with nuclear deterrence being a vital part of Barksdale's mission, utilities Airmen manage fuel systems around base for aircraft, ground vehicles and missile systems.

"If the fuel systems are not working properly, there is no way to get fuel to the aircraft, which hinders our nuclear deterrence capabilities," said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Hamden, 2nd CES fuels supervisor. "We also have to fuel our ground vehicles. Transporting people and supplies are a vital part in supporting the mission, supplying our aircraft is necessary to accomplish that."

In addition to fuel and water, utilities Airmen are responsible for maintaining natural gas lines and distribution, providing the gas Barksdale requires for cooking and heating needs.

"Our dining facility uses a large amount of natural gas for their operations," Hamden said. "Without it, food doesn't get made and Airmen can't do their jobs It's also used to heat water for washing and heat Barksdale during the winter months."

Coupled with providing the water and fuel Barksdale requires, comes the sense of pride associated with knowing they directly affect the mission.

"We may not have the most glamorous jobs," Crandell said. "But there is an element of pride there. We are doing things that nobody else wants to do. We're down in the trenches getting dirty."

"The base benefits from the work we do, and that makes us feel proud," he added.
Whether it's fuel, water or natural gas, utilities Airmen make sure Barksdale can accomplished the mission.