Logistics at its finest: LRS shines during redeployment

Published Dec. 1, 2011
By 2nd Lt. Kwang Woong Kim
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- For almost a year, Team Fairchild operated out of Moses Lake, Wash., and the Spokane International Airport as its runway was undergoing reconstruction.

As the runway reconstruction came to its final stages, operations out of Moses Lake began their drawdown in preparation to return to Fairchild.

With more than 1.75 million pounds of equipment along with hundreds of Airmen, it was a challenging task for the 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron to return everything and everyone back to Fairchild before the Thanksgiving holiday that Col. Paul Guemmer, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, set as his goal.

Beginning on Nov. 1, the 92nd LRS set out to meet that challenge.

"We sent numerous trucks back and forth to pick up equipment ranging from aircraft parts, generators, vehicles, palettes and more than 200 concrete barriers," said Master Sgt. Joe Guajardo, 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations superintendent.

More than 141 truckloads weighing close to 880 tons, equivalent to 80 school buses, were returned to Fairchild.

"My Airmen busted their backsides to build and implement the redeployment plan from Moses Lake," said Lt Col. David Gehrich, 92nd LRS commander. "Mr. Michael Dery, Master Sgt. John Holodnick and logistic planners spent at least 60 hours coordinating to create, refine and implement the deployment plan. 2nd Lt. Andrew McHendry, Master Sgt. James Collins, Master Sgt. Joe Guajardo and their team of vehicle operators spent untold hours coordinating with the Army National Guard and Reserve to borrow 13 flatbed trucks and eight drivers to move cargo, which decreased the redeployment time from two months to 12 days."

During the twelve-day span, the 92nd LRS drove more than 560 hours spanning 34,000 miles. That's like driving from New York to London ten times. Many were delighted to return back before the Thanksgiving holiday.

"I was glad we got the job done before the holiday," said Airman 1st Class Austin Williams, 92nd LRS vehicle operator. "I was happy to be home for the holidays."
Guajardo added, "The redeployment went smoothly and my Airmen were able to be back in time to spend the holidays at home with family and friends. For me, it felt good to be back with the family for the holidays."

"These LRS Airmen put plenty of hard work into the "deployment and succeeded," said Gehrich. "But, of course the 92nd LRS could not have completed this move in a vacuum. The entire wing provided augmentees to make sure the move happened in such a short time."

With the runway reopening ceremony Nov. 22, the 92nd LRS accomplished their mission by returning all Airmen and equipment back to Fairchild, meeting the goal set by Guemmer.