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Fuels Program Establishes Future Workforce, Supports Navy Mission

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110524-13
5/24/2011

By Cody Raysinger, Naval Supply Systems Command Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center-operated DFSP Puget Sound announced May 5, it has implemented a Fuels Occupational Degree program to establish a highly-skilled workforce to serve the Navy fuels community well into the future.

The program, an intensive two-year degree opportunity designed in close coordination with Olympic College and modeled after an existing program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, will serve to replace the veteran fuel operators at DFSP Puget Sound as they near retirement.

"We are leading the way out here at Manchester," said DFSP-Puget deputy director Robert Cairns. "This is the first degree program in the nation specifically designed for the fuel distribution industry."

After many months of careful design and collaboration between DFSP Puget Sound and Olympic College, as well as a lengthy accreditation process, the program received its very first students in January 2009, and since has had three graduates. The two-year degree program will graduate three more fuel interns in August 2011.

Students enrolled in the Fuels Occupational Degree program are required to complete 90 credits from Olympic College in Bremerton, Wash.

In an effort to expand the student's general knowledge and encourage critical thinking, 60 of those credits must come from rigorous academic courses including physics, chemistry, mathematics, English, history and leadership.

The remaining 30 credits are reserved for vocational classes that are directly applicable to the Navy fueling community such as pipeline hydraulics, tankerman training, basic corrosion, crane rigging and safety, commercial truck driving, hazardous waste operations and emergency response, petroleum fundamentals, tank inspection, valves and actuators, and oil spill response.

"These trades-oriented classes greatly improve skill sets of each individual student, enhancing our overall fueling capabilities," Cairns said. "They are truly invaluable to the training process."

Books, tuition, and all other associated educational expenses are covered by the Navy.

Students participating in the program work either part-time or full-time at DFSP Puget Sound in addition to receiving annual, sick and holiday leave. Salaries initially start at the WG-2 level and progress to WG-6 upon completion.

"Education in this program doesn't just happen in the classroom," said DFSP-Puget Fuel Department director, Lt. Cmdr. Jake Hoftiezer. "Students learn by actually doing the job alongside veteran fuel workers."

On any given day in the program, the student could be deploying an oil spill boom, assisting journeyman fuel operators issue, store, transfer, and receive petroleum products, conducting fuel barge operations, performing preventative and corrective maintenance facility-wide, operating fuel trucks, and assisting in the Oily Waste Treatment Plant.

"Above all else, we impart on the student how critical environmental protection is," said Cairns. "We take great measures in teaching the fundamentals of environmental awareness and responsibility."

Upon completion of the classroom portion and proven performance in the field, students receive an Associate of Arts degree from Olympic College as well as an offer of permanent employment, with a competitive salary and benefits.

"It really is the chance of a lifetime", said student James Hess.

DFSP Puget Sound celebrated its first two graduates, Matthew Ley and John-Ryan Bailey in June 2010, followed later by Robert Erwin in September.

"These gentlemen represent and embody the future of the fuels business," said Hoftiezer. "This unique program represents not just an outstanding opportunity for Manchester, but for the entire Department of Defense fuels community as a whole. It will enable us to fuel the fight for many years to come," he said.

Looking to the horizon, there are currently eight more future graduates in this program's pipeline as well as many high-caliber applications that have been pouring in by the hundreds.

In this ever changing economic environment, unstable world, and aging workforce, DFSP Puget Sound is proving itself to be ready, resourceful and responsive to meet the growing challenges of the 21st century.

More details on this program are available from Bob Cairns at 360-476-5737.

Fuel is essential to the operational capability of the United States armed forces. Sea, air and ground missions would cease to exist without it. For fuel to be supplied to the military in a safe, efficient and environmentally conscientious manner, it is critical to maintain a staff of properly trained and certified personnel.

Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Puget Sound, one of seven supply centers under Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers (COMFISCS), provides operational logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other Joint and Allied Forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

COMFISCS comprises more than 5,700 military and civilian logistics professionals, contractors and foreign nationals operating as a single cohesive team providing global logistics services from 110 locations worldwide.

A component of the Naval Supply Systems Command headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., COMFISCS is part of a worldwide logistics network of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel providing combat capability through logistics.