RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron Hazmart Pharmacy at RAF Mildenhall, England, is responsible for receiving, storing and issuing all hazardous materials on the installation.
The pharmacy provides mission essential hazardous materials primarily to the units that keep aircraft flying.
“The hazmart pharmacy has an impactful role on mission readiness at RAF Mildenhall,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Tendam, assistant noncommissioned officer in charge of hazmart. “We play a small but essential part in a big mission, and we’re proud of that.”
A thorough hazardous materials request process ensures supplies are only distributed to units that need them.
“Our more frequent customers are the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 100th Maintenance Squadron, 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, and the 100th LRS Vehicle Maintenance Flight,” said Tendam.
Until the pharmacy distributes the supplies to these units, the materials are separated and stored according to the hazard they represent.
Tendam explained that materials such as grease and motor oil are stored in the low hazard storeroom while those having a flashpoint of 199.4 degrees Fahrenheit or less are kept in the flammable storeroom. Batteries for aircraft and larger vehicles are kept in the corrosive storeroom and breathing oxygen, nitrogen and argon are stored in large gas cylinders outside.
The responsibility of safely storing and distributing hazardous materials is no small concern. Whether it be an oxygen canister which supplies air to pilots in-flight or de-icing fluid which prevents aircraft components from freezing, the materials hazmart pharmacy Airmen supply contribute to keeping the mission moving.