JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The 673d Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management flight hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Dec. 6, 2018.

The ceremony served as the unveiling of a new state-of-the-art fuel offloading facility called a JP-8 Alternate Offload Header, providing JBER a new alternate fuel receipt capability.

“This facility represents a system we definitely need – for us loggies, it’s essentially our weapons system, and these guys who work in fuels can attest to that,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Kirk Peterson, 673d Logistics Readiness Group commander, at the ceremony. “JBER is a strategic hub, not just for the Air Force but for the Department of Defense as a whole. This is a key combat power here in this theater. We are the gateway to the Pacific, and this big gas station is the resilient system that’ll allow us to continue to be.”

The purpose of the new facility is to provide a secondary means to receive fuel. Normally, fuel is received via a 12-inch pipeline from the Port of Anchorage. If for any reason the pipeline is down for maintenance or is damaged, the secondary receipt method is via tank truck.

“This facility provides critical resiliency of fuel delivery operations for the installation,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, U.S. Army Core of Engineers Alaska District project manager, who oversaw the overall scope, schedule, budget and execution of the project. “The facility serves as a back-up plan to the existing pipeline so if that pipeline flow were ever to be disrupted for any reason, there’s a strong contingency plan in place to deliver fuel. We hope to never need to use it, but if the need ever arises, we’re ready, and this just makes us all the more dynamic.”

The JP-8 Alternate Offload Header is connected to the fuels flight’s bulk storage facility which is run by TK&K Contractor.

This $4.4M system add-on will allow up to four tank trucks to offload 1.3 million gallons of fuel per day. This allows the fuels flight to meet Air Force Instruction requirements and sustain maximum fuel levels.

“This facility is so important to our mission capability and our readiness,” said Capt. Elizabeth Stevens, 673d LRS fuels flight commander. “This is very ground-breaking and has been in the works for a long time, so we’re excited to have this opportunity and capability available.”