Hard work fuels future for 100th LRS Airman

by Gina Randall
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

2/23/2015 - RAF MILDENHALL, England  -- As home to U.S. Air Forces in Europe's sole air refueling wing, fuel and cryogenics are an extremely important area of work for Airmen assigned to RAF Mildenhall.

One such Airman charged with the storing and issuing of cryogenic products is Senior Airman Matthew Dillard, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron cryogenic specialist from Las Vegas, Nevada.

He enlisted to make the most of his life and see where the career took him.

"I joined to travel and get some experience," Dillard explained. "I wanted to grow up and see the world."

He wanted to be stationed overseas and he was glad his first assignment brought him to England.

"I've been in the military for three years, this is my first base," the cryogenic specialist said.

Not only does he enjoy living overseas, Dillard enjoys his work.

"I got to close down Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan; that was pretty cool," the Nevada native explained. "I was there for six months and we had to take everything away. The change from a fully operational base to bare bones was drastic. Our biggest challenge was dismantling 14 200,000-gallon fuel bladders."

He looks back with pride on his career highlights, but his day-to-day duties at home station make him look forward to coming to work.

"The main job for petroleum, oils and lubricants Airmen is to issue fuel to the aircraft, and I facilitate issuing fuel from all the storage tanks," Dillard explained. "I also perform inspections and issue cryogenic products, ensuring aircrews are provided with pure oxygen."

Dillard's work can be extremely dangerous but he performs regular inspections to ensure his work is carried out to the highest and safest standards.

"Day-to-day, I check out all our facilities and make sure they're all operating correctly to ensure the safety of our guys as well as the base as a whole," Dillard explained. "We operate systems and perform liquid oxygen, receipts and issues. That keeps us pretty busy. We also do a small amount of maintenance on the systems."

The Airmen undergo a great deal of training prior to and on the job, and his supervisor is on-hand in case Dillard needs advice.

"Dillard is very thorough and very good at training other personnel. He is an all-around go-to guy when it comes to fixed facilities," said Staff Sgt. Dakota Ferris, 100th LRS Fixed Facility supervisor from Mackinaw City, Michigan.

Dillard enjoys his work but is looking to his future.

"I enjoy traveling and going to school," he said. "I want to get into the medical field; that's what I'm aspiring toward."

Dillard's leadership say his hard work and good work ethics will fuel his career onto its chosen path.