Doing it in the Dark – Airmen keep aircraft fueled during multinational exercise

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Marelise Wood
  • 352nd Special Operations Group Public Affairs
EVENES, Norway --  "You go to work in the dark, you leave work in the dark" is something many of us have heard either before coming to or while stationed at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. However, what happens in between? What if we had to work in the dark, too?

The three-member forward area refueling point (FARP) team, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron, which deploys with the 352nd Special Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, to provide support in its refueling operations knows all too well about the dark.

"Anytime we do an actual FARP it's completely lights out," said Staff Sgt. Max Horner, assistant FARP program manager. "No lights of any sort can be on - no marking lights on the helicopters or the aircraft."

When one thinks about the situations when FARP operations would occur, that makes sense.

"FARP provides the ability for 352nd Special Operations Group's MC-130P Combat Shadows and MC-130H Combat Talon IIs to rapidly (ground) refuel up to three aircraft simultaneously in hostile territory," said Senior Airman Tara Skobel, FARP team member.

The team was able to demonstrate that ability during a recent deployment with the 352nd SOG at Exercise Cold Response 10 (CR10) - an annual multinational exercise.

"Once the C-130 lands, blades still going, we prepare to exit the aircraft," said Airman Skobel. "We use a cart the size of a small car. It has four hoses on it. One hose attaches to the C-130 and the other three hoses can set up from three different points to refuel three aircraft depending on size."

Special operations helicopters are the usual customers, but other aircraft can be refueled as well.

"It can be three helicopters, or a combination of aircraft including other C-130s or C-5s," added Airman Skobel.

Safety is paramount. Goggles are a required personal protective equipment item, and water and a fire extinguisher have to be positioned at each refueling point. However, some members add their own gear as a matter of personal preference.

"I like to wear one kneepad," said Sergeant Horner, "because as soon as the helicopters come in you pretty much have to sit still and kneel on ice or concrete for (extended periods of) time."

The helicopters land fairly close to the FARP team, but Sergeant Horner had a recent experience where they landed a little closer than he was expecting.

"... I was literally underneath the rotors," he said. "You have put a lot of trust in those guys (the pilots), because at that point you're stuck. There's no direction you could go, especially on ice."

With the potential for hair-raising experiences and the physically-demanding nature of conducting FARP operations, it's not a job for the faint of heart, but much like Airman Skobel and Sergeant Horner, the third member of the team knew that it was something he wanted to do.

"I was approached to join the team before I was even fully qualified in my normal job [fuels specialist]," said Senior Airman Brent Reich. "I knew it was something I was interested in, but I wasn't ready. I deployed, learned my job, and that's when I decided to join the team."

Training for the team is extensive, but it was Airman Reich's favorite part.

"I've always enjoyed the training." he said, "We did the water survival school and M-9 training. We haven't gone through the (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training yet, but it's something I'm looking forward to."

FARP operations were among many abilities exercised by members of the 352nd SOG during CR10. Over 200 352nd SOG members deployed and participated in the exercise which involved more than 8,000 participants from 14 nations.