14 LRS

Patrick Fleming, 14th Logistics Readiness Squadron Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic, checks the oil of a government vehicle Jan. 27 on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. 14th LRS Vehicle Management Flight is in charge of taking care of up to 175 vehicles on the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Daniel Lile)

14 LRS

James Bowen, 14th Logistics Readiness Squadron Packing and Crating Specialist, cuts wood to support a crate Jan. 27 on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. The crates made by material management need to be able to withstand shipment in the air, on a boat or being transported on the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Daniel Lile)

14 LRS

Rafael Maura, 14th Logistics Readiness Squadron Material Handler, scans incoming parts to send to the flight line Jan. 27 on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. All maintenance parts come through 14th LRS material management and are inventoried before being used. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Daniel Lile)

14 LRS

Willie Crawford, 14th Logistics Readiness Squadron Material Specialist, issues an upcoming student pilot flight equipment Jan. 27 on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. 14th LRS Material Management Flight also handles the equipment that is needed for Airmen who are deploying. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Daniel Lile)

14 LRS

Second Lt. Michael Craig, 14th Logistics Readiness Squadron Flightline Driver, drives pilots to their aircraft Jan. 27 on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. The 14th LRS Distribution Flight also handles the Traffic Management Office that receives personal property when Airmen arrive at Columbus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Daniel Lile)

14th LRS continues to support CAFB mission

Published Jan. 30, 2015
By Airman Daniel Lile
14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 14th Logistics Readiness Squadron encompasses four flights which include material management, fuels management, deployment and distribution and vehicle management.

All of them are critical to supporting the mission of Columbus Air Force Base.

Material management handles the equipment needed for Airmen who are deploying.

"Material management consists of supply, such as deployment and mobility gear like gas masks," said Maj. Antonio Salazar, 14th LRS Commander. "They provide aircraft parts, mission capable support, mobility bag and weapons support, equipment accountability and customer service to support Columbus Air Force Base".

The fuels management flight ensures 14th FTW aircraft always have the fuel they need to complete their mission of producing pilots.

"The fuels management flight actually provides the jet fuel for the aircraft," Salazar said. "We have fuel storage tanks to store fuel and get an average anywhere between seven to nine fuel trucks a day. That operation is pretty big here. They also provide cryogenics fluids to support aircraft operations."

The deployment and distribution flight ensures transportation for all personnel is taken care of, from pilots on the flightline to the defenders' vehicles on patrol.

"The deployment and distribution flight consists of vehicle operations which picks up the aircrew on the flightline or arranges transportation for anyone really who needs it," Salazar said. "They also handle the Traffic Management Office that receives your personal property when you arrive here. Lastly, the Logistics Plans section is responsible for the centralized command and control, planning and execution of all wing deployments."

The vehicle management flight ensures the wing's vehicles continue running and maintain the required maintenance necessary to accomplish the mission.

"The vehicle management flight is responsible for repairing all of the government vehicles on base," Salazar said. "They have to be able to have the technical knowledge to be able to repair many different types of vehicles and are in charge of taking care of up to 175 vehicles."

All flights in the 14th LRS directly support the 14th FTW mission of Producing Pilots, Advancing Airmen and Feeding the Fight.

"LRS is important to the mission because if we did not have vehicle maintenance, supplies, fuel, logistics plans and vehicles to transport personnel, we could not train pilots and deploy Airman to the fight," said Master Sgt. Rodel Sy, 14th LRS Superintendent. "We could not fix vehicles, deliver aircraft parts or even have the fuel to fly the aircraft that are critical to our mission."