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HomeNewsWell-conducted FARPs require orchestration

Well-conducted FARPs require orchestration

Written by Spc. Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Fort Campbell KY, 101st Airborne Division159th Combat Aviation BrigadeKandahar Airfield, Afghanistan – After the cool morning had yielded to the heat of the day, a group of soldiers dressed in oppressive full battle rattle waited the “10 more minutes until the bird is ready.”

This was at least the third time they’d received the 10-minute warning.

“The mission will be over by the time we get there,” one soldier joked.

“No, they need us,” was the answer.

Soldiers of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, discuss a plan of action to unload materiels necessary for moving the fuel blivets in the foreground during a forward arming and refueling point mission in southern Afghanistan, April 13th. (Photo by: Spc. Jennifer Andersson)
Soldiers of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, discuss a plan of action to unload materiels necessary for moving the fuel blivets in the foreground during a forward arming and refueling point mission in southern Afghanistan, April 13th. (Photo by: Spc. Jennifer Andersson)

True enough.

The mission required aviators of the 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, (Task Force Palehorse), 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, (Task Force Thunder), 101st Airborne Division, to fly farther south than usual to observe activity in the area. In order to do that for an extended period of time, they need a refueling point nearby.

The aviators need the forward arming and refueling points to sustain themselves during long-term operations, said Master Sgt. Dave Schaul of Dubuque, IA, the operations NCOIC for TF Palehorse.

Enter the fuel blivets.

Spc. John P. Hall (left), a fueler with 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, (Task Force Palehorse), 159th Combat Aviation Brigade (Task Force Thunder), 101st Airborne Division, receives help preparing a fuel blivet for movement at a forward arming and refueling point during a mission in southern Afghanistan, April 13th. (Photo by: Spc. Jennifer Andersson)The bladders of fuel looked like gargantuan drag racing tires dangling from the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

The Pathfinders and fuelers, already on the ground, had secured the area and prepared the landing zone for the blivets. The Chinook set them gently on the ground, and the fuelers unhooked them. Once the helicopter was free of its load, it landed nearby so the Soldiers could unload the refueling equipment inside.

This symphony of activity on the ground did not occur spontaneously – it was well-orchestrated weeks in advance.

Once the Pathfinders have identified what they believe is a suitable area, the intelligence section verifies the threat level and briefs the command as to the risk level for the mission, said Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Cooke of Mountain Home, ID, the distribution platoon sergeant for Troop E, TF Palehorse.

The command then determines whether the mission is worth the risk.

“We feel confident enough in our leadership to make the right choices,” Cooke said.

Due to the inherent risk of operating in a combat zone, there’s always the possibility of a hostile situation arising, but the soldiers have planned ahead.

“If a situation was to evolve, there is a predetermined level of risk at which we cut sling and get out of there,” said Sgt. 1st Class Cameron H. Cook of Seneca Falls, NY, the Pathfinder detachment operations platoon sergeant for Company F, 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment (a TF Palehorse element). “There are some scenarios that S-2 puts together that tell us when it’s time to get out.”

There are permanent FARPs located on installations, but the turnaround time for resupply using these facilities cuts precious minutes off of the time the aviators are in the air. Therefore, the refueling supplies and people are brought closer to the area of operation: a jump-FARP.

A CH-47 Chinook helicopter carries a set of bladders to equip a forward arming and refueling point in support of a mission in southern Afghanistan, April 13th. (Photo by: Spc. Jennifer Andersson)“Where we want to recon is too far away from an established FARP,” said 2nd Lt. William Reber of Mount Kisco, NY, the distribution platoon leader for Troop E, TF Palehorse.

“We have to place fuel closer to where they want to recon. In order to give them enough time to do a proper reconnaissance, and a thorough one, we have to put gas down there,” he said. “Otherwise, they would have maybe 10 or 15 minutes before they’d have to come back for gas.”

Certainly, these mobile gas stations take some time to set up and break down, but the recon teams’ expanded reach is worth the extra work.

“AAFARS – advanced aviation forward aircraft refueling system – is a system the Army has developed for going out to the site to set up a mobile refueling and rearming site,” Reber said. “Everything goes in a [portable container], which can be sling loaded, but this time we were able to put the tricon in the bird and the blivets were slung.”

“These guys are allowing the birds to do longer reconnaissance without having to fly all the way back to refuel,” said Cook.

There are more challenges to setting up a jump-FARP in the mountainous environment of Afghanistan than there are in Fort Campbell.

“The main restriction for a jump-FARP is the weight of the fuel,” said Cook. “It’s about seven pounds a gallon. Just getting it on a Chinook is more difficult out here. Chinooks can usually carry about 20,000 pounds, but at this elevation, they can’t do that.”

“The lift capability is affected greatly,” said Reber.

Several sections must coordinate to have a successful mission.

“It’s a consolidation of resources from each of the key players to make the mission happen,” Reber said.

“You don’t know how much gas you need until you figure out what they want to do or how long they want to fly,” said Schaul.

While the important part of a jump-FARP is refueling the aircraft, the fuelers are not the only ones on the ground. The Pathfinders literally have the fuelers’ backs. In fact, they have everyone’s backs during the mission.

They determine whether an area is suitable for a jump-FARP, Reber said.

The Pathfinders supply the majority of the security, but in the event they need backup, the unit is prepared.

The FARP team is augmented with internal snipers, various small arms and has heavy capabilities for backup security, Cooke said.

“We have medevac on standby,” said Reber. “They can cut down response time, if need be.”

The members of TF Palehorse’s jump-FARP knew they could not wind down from the day until they broke down their equipment and stored it once again on the bird to return to Kandahar Airfield.

The wearied orchestra packed away their instruments. This concert was over.

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