Page 1 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, March 2019
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Vol. 12, No. 3 Serving Southern Arizona’s military community, including Davis-Monthan Air Force Base March 2019
Senior Airman giovanni Sims
Staff Sgts. Matthew Lara and Drake Burch, 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron forward area refueling point operators, refuel
an A-10 Thunderbolt II Jan. 30 at an undisclosed location. FARP training includes members wearing full body armor while per-
FARP: Land, refuel, leaveforming refueling tasks to simulate encounters they may face downrange.
by Airman 1st Class that others have enough fuel to complete tions. Downrange we could have scenarios
Continue to get Davis-Monthan KRISTINE LEGATE their missions and make it back home safe.†where we have to land, refuel and leave in
Air Force Base latest news under an hour.â€
and information from these 355th Wing Public Affairs FARP plays a role in the U.S. military’s
adaptive basing abilities to deliver airpower Training can be strenuous and demand-
sources: http://www.aerotech- In the darkness of night, forward area lethality more effectively and efficiently ing. To even qualify for FARP, Airmen must
news.com/davis-monthanafb refueling point team members wait for an anywhere in the world by being able to pass Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and
HC-130J Combat King II to land – marking provide a mobile refueling point anywhere Escape school and go through an altitude
and social media the start of training. an aircraft can land. chamber. In training situations, which can
sometimes take place in pitch black dark-
Desert Lightning News FARP, a specialty within the petroleum, “With the ability to set up a refueling site ness, FARP members must show they can
oils and lubrication career field, trains Air- with both minimal equipment and person- refuel aircraft even in the most austere
Date of publication men to effectively refuel aircraft in remote nel, we are able to provide versatility while environments. Training in less-than-ideal
locations when air-to-air refueling is not leaving a low footprint†Burch said. conditions allow Airmen to hone their skills
First Friday possible or when fueling stations are not which will, in turn, allow them to support
accessible. To maintain readiness in adverse condi- the mission in any situation.
of the month tions, FARP training can take place any-
Submission deadline Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is one of time, day or night, and consists of members “It’s demanding – both physically and
seven bases which can provide FARP capa- wearing roughly 60 pounds of gear, to in- mentally. On the job, exhaustion can easily
15th day of the month bilities. Of the entire U.S. Air Force, there clude: a rifle, vest, magazines, night vision creep up on you and thoughts of wanting to
are 63 qualified FARP team members – nine goggles, a helmet and survival gear, while quit start to cross your mind, but you don’t
prior to date of publication for each base. performing refueling tasks to simulate en- quit,†Lara said. “In a real-world situation
counters they may face downrange. you can’t just stop, you have to keep going
Veterans “We come in with everything we need to to complete the mission.â€
deliver fuel from one aircraft to another,†“We practice how we play,†said Staff Sgt.
Tell us Your Story said Staff Sgt. Drake Burch, 355th Logistics Matthew Lara, 355th LRS FARP operator.
Active-duty, Reserve, Retirees Readiness Squadron FARP operator, “so “It helps us prepare for real-world situa-
All military branches are included
Email name, phone number and a
brief description of your service to
deborah.leuthold@us.af.mil
