POL: Who's got fuel?

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.- Staff Sgt. Aaron Rupert communicates with dispatch refuelers here Aug. 1, 2011. As a 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels controller, Rupert is the liaison between the flightline and dispatchers. A fuels controller is accountable for all fuels and lab equipment and personnel. They also inform dispatchers where to go and what to do in support of the base's F-15E Strike Eagles and KC-135R Stratotanker fleet. Rupert hails from Ford City, Penn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Whitney Lambert/ Released)

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$SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.- Senior Airman William Thomas adds fuel to water during a fuel system icing inhibitor (FSII) test here Aug. 1, 2011. The FSII test determines the concentration of diethylene glycol monomethyl ether in jet fuel by refractive index. The test determines the concentration of FSII to ensure effective protection against the detrimental effect of free water. Thomas, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuel lab technician, is a native of Parkersburg, W.Va. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Whitney Lambert/ Released)$

POL: Who's got fuel?

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.- Senior Airman William Thomas adds fuel to water during a fuel system icing inhibitor (FSII) test here Aug. 1, 2011. The FSII test determines the concentration of diethylene glycol monomethyl ether in jet fuel by refractive index. The test determines the concentration of FSII to ensure effective protection against the detrimental effect of free water. Thomas, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuel lab technician, is a native of Parkersburg, W.Va. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Whitney Lambert/ Released)

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POL: Who's got fuel?

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - The 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron has seven filter separators that recycle fuel and save money. The separators remove contaminants and water from jet fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Whitney Lambert/ Released)

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POL: Who's got fuel?

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - Senior Airman Billy Joe Gordon holds a deadman during a defueling here Aug. 1, 2011. A deadman has to be held in order to fuel or defuel a truck and is an automatic safety tool switch used during the entire process of defueling or fueling. Gordon is a 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels operator and hails from Milton, Penn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Whitney Lambert/ Released)

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POL: Who's got fuel?

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.- Airman 1st Class Christian Crider monitors the controls on a defueling operation panel here Aug. 1, 2011. The 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) fuel operations flight supports the base's F-15E Strike Eagle and KC-135R Stratotanker fleet. Crider is a 4th LRS fuels operator and hails from Montgomery, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Whitney Lambert/ Released)

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POL: Who's got fuel?

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.- Airman 1st Class Christian Crider refuels an aircraft here Aug. 1, 2011. The 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) fuel operations flight supports the base's F-15E Strike Eagle and KC-135R Stratotanker fleet. An R-11 refueling truck can pump 750 gallons of fuel per minute. Crider is a 4th LRS fuels operator and hails from Montgomery, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Whitney Lambert/ Released)

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POL: Who's got fuel?

Published Aug. 3, 2011
By Senior Airman Whitney Lambert
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The ultimate weapon runs off water [humans], everything else runs off fuel.

The 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron's petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) flight is known for their culture. POL is a close-knit family and a group of dedicated professionals who are willing to tackle and overcome any task. This culture was made strong by the resiliency and flexibility of each Airman. Flexibility is key to airpower and without Airmen being flexible and adapting to the everyday changes of the missions, they would not be able to succeed. Tasked with every deployment rotation whether Team Seymour's aircraft are deployed or not, the personnel at home station continue to remain flexible to ensure all mission requirements are met.

"The 4th Fighter Wing's POL shop is one of the most closely knit family of professionals that I have ever worked with," said Master Sgt. Marques Boyce, 4th LRS fuels operations section chief.

POL Airmen are entrusted to safely store, deliver and account for an average of 45 million gallons of fuel every year. All Airmen receive extensive technical school and on-the-job training before they are permitted to perform POL duties. Their technical course consists of 31 days at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, where they are taught how to operate equipment, store and transfer petroleum products, equipment accountability procedures, and driving and maintenance of refueling vehicles and storage facilities. Airmen are also trained on how to be physically fit to perform POL duties, specifically in the various climates they are exposed to at home station and abroad.

Many people simply think of POL Airmen as the guys driving "the big green trucks," but they are a dedicated team that performs maintenance and inspection on all refueling assets. They order products, are responsible for fuel and parts, laboratory samples, and store not only fuel but liquid oxygen.

"Most people are blind to everything in POL without realizing that there is more than just one phase [of refueling]," said Senior Master Sgt. Lawrence Sims, 4th LRS fuels management flight superintendent.

The 4th LRS POL flight's mission is to provide the safe and efficient delivery of aviation, ground and cryogenic products to support the robust missions of both the 4th FW and 916th Air Refueling Wing.