Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas and Task Force Americas provided fuel operations support and expertise to U.S. Army Reserve’s Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise at three East Coast and one West Coast location, July 14-27.
Army Reserve Soldiers of the 207th Regional Support Group led the QLLEX, the largest continental United States Army-wide annual petroleum and water transportation exercise.
“We are here to support and enable USAR and QLLEX training objectives and simultaneously improve DLA Energy Americas’ ability to provide C2 (command and control) support in DSCA (Defense Support of Civil Authorities) operations,” said Air Force Capt. Alexander Yee, DLA Energy Americas C2 team member.
QLLEX is a multi-component, joint exercise involving elements from the Army Reserves, DLA and the Navy to transport petroleum from a supply hub to the end user. The exercise is designed to train on petroleum and water operations (tactical and technical) to include C2, accountability, storage, fuel distribution, and water procurement and production.
DLA Energy Americas facilitates the line-haul movement of fuel by providing strategic and tactical-level operations and training support at the battalion and company level by integrating with the 207th RSG. This is how the Army gets fuel from a Defense Fuel Support Point to a USAR-operated Fuel System Supply Point, Yee explained. The FSSPs are the Army’s primary means for the receipt and storage of bulk petroleum in a contingency or tactical situation.
“This exercise allows Task Force Americas the opportunity to train in our operational responsibilities during a DSCA event involving support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Yee said.
During the training, the DLA Energy Americas’ C2 team mimics Task Force Americas requirements and responsibilities by preparing them for real natural disasters or emergencies.
“Task Force Americas training during QLLEX execution keeps us prepared to support contingency type fuel operations,” said Terry Poole, DLA Energy Americas task force team member located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
The DLA Energy Americas C2 team oversaw four DFSP locations and was co-located with the 207th RSG at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
To further assist with QLLEX, DLA Energy sent out sub-region liaison officers and quality assurance representatives to provide operation oversight, technical fuel knowledge and on-the-job training for the various transportation and quartermaster companies’ personnel.
“I’m glad to be able to help out with tactical-level battalion fuels operations and provide POL (petroleum, oil and lubricant) insight to Army reservists,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Stacy Mouzon, DLA Energy QAR and QLLEX liaison officer at DFSP Charleston, South Carolina exercise location.
There was great communication between Task Force Americas and the 207th concerning mission requirements, said Larry Lewis, DLA Energy Americas at San Pedro supply planner and Task Force Americas team member located with the C2 team Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
“Task Force Americas was immediately notified if the Army had a shortfall mission requirement and the team was able to supplement the unit with commercial trucks,” he said.
Partnering with outside agencies presented a unified front for training and readiness to sustain the DLA Energy customer, said DLA Energy Americas at Houston Commander and Task Force Americas Commander Army Lt. Col. Josielyn Carrasquillo.
“This is an excellent opportunity to exercise DLA Energy Americas responsibilities during a Defense Support of Civil Authorities operation involving support to FEMA,” Carrasquillo said. “I am confident of the expeditionary deployment readiness and vast knowledge of Task Force Americas to support DSCA operations. In a good Army readiness lingo, I am certified that TFA is Fully Mission Capable ‘FMC’ to maintain the global posture.”