can be increased easily depending on the mission and number
of HEMTTs available. The high
capacity reduces the number of resupplies required on site after the
JFARP is in place and operational.
Ground convoy operations come
with added risks, including increased security implications and
enemy threat potential before and
after refueling operations. Performing preventive maintenance
checks and services on HEMTTs
and including a security escort are
paramount to a successful JFARP
when employing HTARS.
Fat cow. Like the AAFARS,
a fat cow JFARP provides rapid
employment and more site choices while operating under minimal
enemy threat potential to and from
the site. Since this system requires
the use of aircraft, it comes with
weight limitations. This primarily affects how much fuel or how
many 800-gallon extended-range
fuel system tanks can be safely
transported.
The fat cow can be used to either
refuel aircraft for a short time or resupply another JFARP by refueling
blivets that are already in place, for
example. Effective synchronization
between the flight unit providing
the Chinook and the fuel unit providing the personnel to conduct refueling operations is important.
Innovating While Training
While training and preparing to
employ a JFARP, the fuel and water platoon experimented with different ways to execute operations,
such as using a fat cow to resupply
an AAFARS FARP, which is not
normally done.
The platoon also experimented with ways to package systems
for employment. Using the basic
issue item box, the platoon fit a
whole HTARS inside the cab of
a HEMTT, reducing the need for
additional cargo transport vehicles
for convoy operations.
Although a tricon container is
part of the AAFARS component
item list, the platoon packed all
necessary pieces of the system on
an Air Force 463L pallet. This
allowed the platoon to load the
AAFARS into a CH–47, which
decreased the need for additional
sling loads.
Even though each system is designed to be employed a certain
way, it is invaluable to have Soldiers
who are capable of referencing
doctrine, such as Field Manual 10–
67–1, Concepts and Equipment of
Petroleum Operations, and leaders
who can innovate and execute missions tailored to certain situations
in a combat environment.
Validation Exercise
The fuel and water platoon
trained with the 142nd Combat
Sustainment Support Battalion
and learned its tactics, techniques,
and procedures for convoy operations. The platoon also trained
with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment
Support Squadron (RSS/2CR) to
learn convoy and site security integration. This training proved valuable to the platoon and prepared it
well to execute a validation exercise.
The validation exercise consisted of a ground convoy with two
HEMTTs escorted by RSS/2CR
Strykers to a location outside
KAF. At the chosen JFARP site,
RSS/2CR emplaced security at the
landing zone and the platoon set
up a two-point FARP using the
HTARS and refueled one CH–47.
After completing the HTARS
validation, the CH–47 flew back to
KAF, where the platoon’s sling-load
team hooked up two blivets. The
CH–47 returned t