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News | Dec. 15, 2016

DLA Energy Europe and Africa Petroleum laboratory featured in Facebook video

By DLA Energy Public Affairs DLA Energy Public Affairs

Defense Logistics Agency Energy Europe and Africa Petroleum laboratory in Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Germany, is featured in a 21st Theater Sustainment Command Facebook video

The video highlights DLA Energy Europe and Africa Petroleum Laboratory technicians as they explain their unique responsibility.

“Army Sgt. 1st Class Mandy Jo Allen is the lab’s noncommissioned officer and she coordinated the video found on the 21st TSC Facebook page,” said DLA Energy Europe & Africa Director Army Col. Lee English. “She and Mike Domen, the new lab chief, are doing a great job.”

The lab is one of four DLA Energy petroleum labs worldwide, and is responsible for the quality surveillance mission for 61 military units, as well as for secure fuel missions and investigate support. Aviation and ground fuels are primarily tested at this facility.

“The DLA Energy Europe & Africa Petroleum laboratory is the only one of its kind in our area of operation, and has the sole responsibility of ensuring U.S. Army fuel is of the highest quality for vehicles operating throughout U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Army Africa,”  Allen said in the video.

During the video, Allen tests a fuel sample for Fuel System Icing Inhibiter, one of the three additives found in military graded fuel.

“Every test we run in the lab is geared towards identifying contamination or deterioration of any petroleum product wherever located,” Allen said.

The lab conducts a variety of tests and conducts monthly training events to 21st Theater Sustainment Command units throughout Germany for fuels-related skills and the Quarterly Fuel Handler’s Course training.

“We do things that most labs wouldn’t ever even think of doing,” Allen said. “Not only do we test. This year alone, we have tested over 1,500 samples. We also provide training to soldiers in the area. The training is quality surveillance based because a lot of people are in the situation in Europe where they are dealing with petroleum products and don’t have the background knowledge.”

Ensuring the highest quality of fuel helps keep military vehicles running in Europe and Africa. 

“We are the only petroleum lab testing Army owned fuel in Europe and Africa so or therefore we have the opportunity to work with everyone who falls under the U.S. African Command and U.S.  European Command umbrella,” Allen said.