ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England -- The members of the 442d Logistics Readiness Squadron’s petroleum, oil, and lubricants flight received forward area refueling training from the 100th LRS POL flight May 19, 2022, on Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England.
The three-phase training enables the POL flight to refuel aircraft from a fuel bladder, typically on a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft, in austere forward-operating locations.
Phase one of the training takes place in a classroom setting and discusses the theory of FARP operations. Phase two covers the tools and equipment used, and has a limited hands-on component. Phase three completes the training and involves actual transfer of fuel.
The intent is to receive all three phases of training while at Mildenhall, said Master Sgt. Max Miller, the 442d POL flight’s NCOIC.
Phase three training is planned to be conducted by performing a rapid hot defuel of a C-130. A “hot” fueling operation is one in which fuel is transferred while at least one engine is running.
“The [agile combat employment] concept is built around FARP,” said Capt. John Lisek, the 442 LRS material management flight commander. He explained that the intent of ACE is to fly in, set up operations, conduct missions, and fly out as quickly as possible.
As there are a limited number of bases in the Air Force that house FARP teams, this training was not available at Whiteman Air Force Base. As such, the POL flight made sure to take advantage of the opportunity to get qualified.
This training will help the flight prepare for a planned ACE exercise next year, in which they will be conducting FARP operations with A-10s.
The ability to operate a FARP helps to keep the 442 FW’s total-force Airmen ready to attack, support, and defend.