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Getting (and staying) green

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The environmental flight here is top notch, and they can prove it. The team brought home three individual awards, one team award and one flight award at Air Mobility Command level for performance in 2007.

But it doesn't stop there.

The flight went on to receive the Pollution Prevention Acquisition Award for Team Excellence at Air Force level and will soon compete at Department of Defense level.

"We usually do well each year. This year we just did better than others," said Jerry Johnson, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron environmental flight chief. "We have a great team and the awards we've received are indicative of the great work they do."

The environmental flight will bring their achievements from the pollution prevention award to DOD level, hoping to win the 2007 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award: Weapon Acquisition Team.

Fairchild's flight makes a good candidate for the award because of their outstanding efforts in maintaining, building upon and exceeding environmental standards at the base, local, state and national levels.

"In my opinion, we've always been one of the best environmental flights. We have a good working environment and leadership is very supportive of the environmental activities," said Diane Wulf, 92nd CES pollution prevention program manager. "The focus is on acquisition - going out and 'buying green.' We have developed the Green Procurement Program on base, so we try to buy recycled and bio-based items and use alternative fuel to meet the Green Procurement guidelines."

Though the environmental flight continually strives to improve the base in terms of "going green," it could not be done without the help of every member of Team Fairchild.

One of the ways Fairchild's environmental flight spreads the word on environmental awareness is through the base Environmental Management Subcommittee.

Led by Lt. Col. John Foden, 92nd Mission Support Group deputy commander, and Lt. Col. Paul Wood, 92nd Maintenance Group deputy commander, the EM subcommittee provides representation from each base organization, ensuring compliance with and improvement efforts in regards to environmental elements.

"They are very good advocates for the environmental programs," said Ms. Wulf. "Members of the environment management have done a great job implementing the programs and there has been great leadership guidance from the commanders."
One example of a pollution prevention improvement made on the base guided by the environmental flight is the change of procedure for cleaning hangar floors where aircraft maintenance is conducted on a regular basis. The waste water produced after washing the floors was sampled and analyzed. It was found to be hazardous, which demands a change.

"They purchased a new cleaning unit that dry sweeps the hangar floor," said Ms. Wulf. "The whole idea is to acquire what is needed for pollution prevention. But it's not just focused on the environment. It's also focused on safety and health."

Additional awards received by the environmental flight include the Outstanding Environmental Flight Award, Environmental Quality Award for Individual Excellence, won by Kristen Nester; Restoration Award for Individual Excellence, won by Marc Connally; and Natural Resource Conservation Management Award for Individual Excellence won by Jonathon Wald.