Delegates visit Ramstein

***image1***In keeping with the tradition among NATO Alliance members to promote increased cooperation with Russian counterparts, the 435th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Fuels Management Flight provided a tour of the facilities, equipment and operations recently as part of the second-annual NATO – Russia Fuels Conference.
Under the auspices of the NATO/Russia Council Logistics Action Plan, the U.S. Defense Energy Support Center-Europe hosted this year’s event in Wiesbaden, Germany, in order to promote information sharing in such areas as fuels compatibility and equipment interoperability.
The conference also promoted Fuels Mobility Support Equipment such as the U.S. Air Transportable Hydrant Refuel-ing and Aerial Bulk Fuels Delivery Systems and the Russian pipeline system.
This year’s Russian delegation was led by Maj. Gen. Vladimir Sereda, 25th Research and Development Institute, and included two representatives from the Russian Transnef-teproduct (Pipeline) Company.
Other alliance attendees included representatives from the Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States and military and civilian representatives from the NATO International Staff, major NATO commands and the Central Europe Pipeline Management Agency.
The tour of the Base Fuels Flight was considered an enormous success and a golden opportunity for our Russian counterparts, other Alliance members, and military representatives of the Major NATO Commands to witness first hand the “best” Fuels Management Flight in the USAF.
The Russian Delegation was particularly impressed with the welcome presentation describing the Flight’s operations and workload presented by Chief Master Sgt. Larry Reddish, Flight Superintendent, and by the enthusiasm and professionalism demonstrated by the Base Fuels Flight members.
On departure, delegates commented it was easy to see why the 435th Fuels Management Flight was considered the “best in the USAF” and winners of the 2003 American Petroleum Institute Award.
(Courtesy 435th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Fuels Management Flight)