TOP STORY>>Vehicle Management Flight keeping the Rock moving

By Staff Sgt. Caleb Pierce
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management flight keeps Little Rock Air Force Base’s mission going, not only on the ground, but they also aid in keeping the aircraft in the air.

The mission of the vehicle management flight is to provide safe and serviceable vehicles for three commands and 28 tenant units with more than 430 vehicles assigned to Little Rock AFB. The flight also assists some off-base agencies and units that are TDY.

To complete their mission, they perform a number of services that range from the smallest of tasks to large projects.

“We are a one-stop shop; anything that is available downtown at any of your mechanic shops or dealers, we offer, from changing light bulbs, engine oil and filters to replacing engines and transmissions,” said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Isaac, a 19th LRS vehicle management flight foreman.

In maintaining the ground mission, they affect the airlift mission too.

The flight maintains and ensures vehicles such as forklifts, fire trucks, aircraft loaders, aircraft tow vehicles, aircraft refueling vehicles and busses are operating safely to load cargo, move passengers, transport aircrew members, and move supply parts to aircraft maintenance, ensuring mission essential levels are met for each specific function.

While performing and maintaining the mission, they also have an initiative to “go green” that uses alternative items, primarily with fluids.

“We are charged with finding green initiative alternative items using recycled or re-refinedengine oils, hydraulic fluids, transmission fluids, recycled anti-freeze and re-treaded tires,” Isaac said. “All the stuff we have to have is in our green procurement operating instruction. We are making a difference here at 19th LRS vehicle management.”

Vehicle management not only makes a difference to the base mission, but the flight is also filled with experienced Airmen and civilian Airmen who want to pass on the information to those that are there now.

“I’ve been doing this 28 years,” said Mike Reid, a 19th LRS vehicle management flight work leader. “I try to make sure that they [new Airmen] get the best education and experience that they can out of this place.”

Ensuring they get the best training and education helps in completing the mission here, as well as downrange.

“All base units are dependent of vehicle management members performing their jobs to ensure the joint mission of the base is executed to MAJCOM standards,” said Maj. Michelle Whitfield, 19th LRS commander. “They are critical and they make it happen; they are the heroes.”