442nd LRS transporters keep Wing rolling

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bill Huntington
  • 442nd Fighter Wing
WHITEMAN AFB, Mo. --  There is a saying among the truckers of America that if it's on the store shelves, it's a safe bet that a driver delivered it.

It's also a safe bet that the 442nd Logistics Readiness Squadron's drivers, in partnership with the squadron's vehicle mechanics, have transported most members of the 442nd Fighter Wing.

Whether it's delivering personnel by bus to a waiting aircraft on the flight line to carry them overseas for deployment, training wing members on operating tractor-trailers, performing scheduled periodic vehicle maintenance or repairing special purpose vehicles, these Airmen play an important role in the operation of the Wing.

Indeed, without them, Wing operations would soon come to a grinding halt - literally and figuratively.

Sharing facilities and equipment with their 509th LRS counterparts, in what both units call "Team Trans," the LRS drivers and mechanics often work shoulder-to-shoulder with their active-duty hosts. In some instances, because of wartime taskings, 442nd Airmen are picking up the difference on a daily basis by serving on mandays.

Senior Master Sgt. D.J. Collins, 442nd LRS Vehicle Maintenance superintendent, has been running the shop for the past nine years. The pride he has in his people is evident as he speaks to his mechanics' level of experience.

"One guy comes to us with 20-years' experience with the Army and he's doing real well," Sergeant Collins said. "I've got two guys on full-time orders with the 509th, backfilling. One of them has been on orders for the past three years and the other for the last year and right now (Tech. Sgt. Adam Lambert) runs the (general purpose) shop and (Tech Sgt. Clifton Briggs) runs the body shop. That says a lot for the Reserve and our working relationship here."

Sergeant Collins was especially impressed with Sergeant Briggs' ability to adapt to, what for him, was a new situation working in a body shop.

"It was kind of a new thing for him when he started out here," Sergeant Collins said. "He took it and he ran with it and now he's running the whole thing."

He's also quick to point out that the two are part of a very talented team.

"We've really got a great crew here," he said, "they're the best I've had in a while."

Still fairly new to the Air Force, Staff Sgt. Chancy Mudd, a General Purpose mechanic, works on sedans, busses, pick-up trucks and other vehicles used for most transportation needs around the base. She said that despite coming to the shop without previous vehicle maintenance experience she was welcomed as one of the crew.

"They are a good group," Sergeant Mudd said of the other mechanics. "Most of them are mechanics (in their civilian jobs), and they do (vehicle maintenance) every day. I can learn more from them than the (Career Development Courses)."

The mechanics refer to general purpose vehicles as the "blue fleet" because they are typically painted the Air Force's familiar strata-blue color. The "green fleet" includes the special purpose vehicles such as material-handling vehicles, including forklifts, and construction vehicles. Other areas of vehicle maintenance focus on fire trucks and refuelers.

The 442nd LRS drivers and maintainers are scheduled to deploy to Aviano Air Base, Italy, and Sergeant Mudd, anticipating her first overseas deployment, says she's excited to go with her fellow vehicle-maintenance troops.

"I deployed previously to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and it was good," she said, "but I'm excited about the chance to get to go somewhere different, especially overseas."

On the vehicle-operations side of the house, LRS drivers hone their skills on those same vehicles the vehicle maintenance troops keep in top running shape.

When they first come into operations, drivers typically operate vehicles in the blue fleet but most are eager for the challenge of operating the base's many special purpose vehicles.

Although he previously served as a vehicle mechanic in the Army, Staff Sgt. Josh Burr also learned to operate a tow truck there.

"I enjoyed driving the tow truck then," Sergeant Burr said. "So when I went to the Air Force recruiter, he told me I had a wide selection of what I could do. I asked which one had the tow truck and he said 'vehicle ops.'''

The choice was easy for him and, since coming to the 442nd, he's also tried his hand at tractor-trailer operations. He said it has even given him some chances to drive "over the road."

"When they shut down the Air Force Reserve unit at New Orleans, I drove a tractor-trailer down there twice," he said. He made a similar trip to MacDill AFB, Fla., with some replacement parts for one of the Wing's A-10s.

Back at home station, the drivers also train Wing members on operating different vehicles. Their skills as drivers are matched by their skills as instructors as they teach and evaluate student drivers in the safe operation of a wide array of equipment.

Deployed to Iraq in 2004, the drivers have faced operating vehicles in a combat zone while providing "in-lieu of" support to the Army. The six drivers logged several thousand miles driving the length and breadth of Iraq, often coming under fire. A mortar round exploded fifteen feet from Master Sgt. Mitch Reifschneider's vehicle and now-retired Tech. Sgt. Brian Quinn's truck was hit by an improvised explosive device wounding him and his passenger.

Five LRS drivers recently returned from another deployment to Iraq, this time to Kirkuk Air Base, where they supported base operations there. That story was chronicled in the June Mohawk.

"I have an outstanding group of young NCOs and Airmen," said Senior Master Sgt. Chuck Thomas, Vehicle Operations superintendent. "Anything we need and ask of them, there is no hesitation. They are on it."

Tying Vehicle Operations and Vehicle maintenance together is the Wing's Transportation liaison, Mr. Jim Boyle who works closely with Whiteman's host unit, the 509th BW, in communicating the 442nd's needs. Sergeant Thomas characterized Mr. Boyle's value to both of these shops.

"He is absolutely the glue that holds us all together," Sergeant Thomas said. "Jim has such a great personality that he has built a great rapport and relationship with our 509th counterparts.''