Vehicle Ops: Driving the mission

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nick Wilson
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Whether it's aircraft parts or supporting security forces with vehicles or wrecker recovery, the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron supports a 24/7 mission to assist aircrew and keep the supply system moving.

A support crew is always on duty to carry out the mission, maintain record management, provide extra help that may be needed on the flightline and assist the snow removal teams.

"We deliver the parts to the aircrews that maintain the B-2, A-10 and T-38," said Airman 1st Class Antonio Salgado, 509th LRS vehicle operator. "Whenever pilots need to get to a plane, we take them there as fast as possible. It's clockwork."

Airmen working in the vehicle operations center "drive the mission" by providing essential capabilities needed to sustain the various missions of the 509th Bomb Wing and all tentant units.

"We support squadron commanders at all levels with command and control vehicles," said Tech. Sgt. Jacob Byers, 509th LRS NCO in charge of equipment support."We support security forces with replacement vehicles. Anything that's an LRS vehicle, we sustain it here and we provide recovery operations for any unit and any government vehicle here."

In addition to supporting the flightline mission, Airmen in the vehicle operations center provide government flightline driver's licenses and process more than 3,000 Airmen and civilians on base annually.

"We're like the invisible hand that moves the base and keeps command and control vehicles ready to go at any time," Byers said. "We also keep security forces supplied with vehicles so they can provide security to keep aircraft and resources on base safe. Without vehicle operations, Team Whiteman wouldn't be able to move the supplies necessary to sustain the mission here."

Prior to returning vehicles, customers must fill the gas tank and ensure the interior and exterior is completely cleaned before they are turned in. Airmen and Department of Defense employees can request government operated vehicles by sending an email to 509LRS.Dispatch@whiteman.af.mil.