Rolling along with 62nd LRS vehicle ops

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- --  The 62nd Logistics Readiness Squadron's vehicle operation section's slogan isn't
something that's tossed around like a catch phrase or only recited after meetings. It's more a motto the LRS Airmen live by. 

"Nothing moves until we do" governs the section's everyday mindset. "Anything that moves on base, we have our hand in it," said Mario Padilla, 62nd LRS vehicle operator. 

That entails transporting everything from mission-essential parts and supplies to people via a fl eet of tractor trailers, forklifts, buses or passenger vehicles. 

The movement can include jobs as simple as taking a tow truck to a location off base to have it serviced or as complex as transporting a large load up Interstate 5 to Boeing Field. 

"Our Airmen have experience handling all kinds of vehicles," said Master Sgt. Kevin Bradt, 62nd LRS element chief. "They would have their commercial driver's license in the civilian sector." 

A call to the section gets the process started, and the vehicle operations staff takes it from there. 

"We're the ones breaking it down and loading it up," Mr. Padilla said. "We handle the pick-up and delivery. We're like the Blue UPS." 

The section processes nearly 2,000 requests per month and has maintained a 98 percent support rate satisfying customers with the available fleet of vehicles the squadron has on hand -- all while undergoing the second-highest deployment rate on
base, Sergeant Bradt said. 

That can take a considerable amount of work. The key is communication within the section's control center between drivers and customers, Sergeant Bradt said. 

"There's a lot of multitasking, which helps us maintain the level of service needed to keep all of our customers happy," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Leulaui, 62nd LRS control center supervisor.

At the end of the day, keeping the fl eet clean and looking sharp is great, but it's just one part of the entire package of customer service. 

"We're the face of the Air Force when we're off base moving equipment and people," Sergeant Bradt said. "We have to be professional no matter what."