Airmen, Soldiers fuel mission together

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Ingold
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Soldiers from the 705th Transport Company, 318th Battalion, delivered fuel for 20th Fighter Wing aircraft at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina July 26, 2019.

Keeping aircraft fueled and ready to support wartime operations, is critical to warfighter safety on the ground.

“First and foremost, we are here for on-the-job training for every Soldier in our unit,” said Sergeant Shaun Thompson, 705th Co, 318th Bn motor transport operator. “We provide fuel for anybody in the Department of Defense, and this is as close to our deployed job as we can get in-garrison.”

Shaw is one of the many stops in the Soldiers’ route around the southeastern United States. Airmen from the 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron received fuel from the Soldiers to be test it for purity and stand by to refuel Shaw’s F-16 Vipers.

Training together in-garrison ensures if the need arises downrange, the 20th FW and 705th Co are ready to execute the mission together seamlessly.

“Every year we train with the 705th so they can improve their fuel delivery and we can save time getting fuel ourselves,” said Senior Airman Luke Means, 20th LRS fuels lab technician. “We also have the experience working with another branch if the need arises downrange.”