From Oct 28 through Nov 14, 2009, a team of engineers and artisans from NAVAIR Lakehurst, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ traveled to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait to install a critical Mobile Nitrogen Gas Generator (MNGG) and a Nitrogen Servicing Van in support of the Kuwaiti Air Force (KAF).

Faced with heat, sandstorms, flies, a short turnaround schedule and a doubtful customer, the team from Lakehurst was called in to repair and upgrade the Support Equipment necessary to provide nitrogen at Al Jaber AB. Making up the team were, Dominick Branco (Team Lead), Joe Travis, Al Carter, John Lieter, Randy Broush, Ryan McHale, Ed Leyenaar and Marine Staff Sergeant Chris Miles.

After experiencing poor to mixed results with installation teams from other organizations, the KAF was very doubtful when Dominick Branco assured them the equipment would be fully operational by Nov 14th. However, after seeing SSGT Miles completely dissemble the MNGG and fully rebuild it with a warranty upgrade on the second day of arrival, the KAF officials were stunned at the professional workmanship. Comments such as ”there’s no way we could have done that” and “I can’t believe how much he had to take apart” were freely tossed about by the Kuwaitis.

By the third day, with Joe Travis running power out to the MNGG, nitrogen was being produced, the Nitrogen Van was up and running and Ed Leyenaar had completed prefabrication on all the pipe manifolds and subassemblies of the system. Major Filaka Khalid, the Combat Weapons System Officer in Charge for the KAF was totally amazed at the rapid progress of the team.

With a pocket welding machine procured by the FMS Logistic Lead, Al Carter, John Lieter crawled into trenches, battled the sand and winds and endured swarms of bothersome flies to complete the welding of the external servicing station and transition pipeline. By the fifth day, all production work was complete and the piping was blown out and pressure tested. As expected, no leaks were found!

SSGT Miles provided a site walk-through for the Air Operations Officer, Colonel Yousef Ali Jamal, who was so impressed with the team’s work that he requested further upgrades be made, along with the installation of four additional Support Equipment systems at the base.

Also during the second week, Randy Broush and SSGT Miles conducted training for the KAF personnel who would be working on the equipment. Training included testing and filling missile tubes from the Nitrogen van, and utilizing the external servicing station by filling the nitrogen carts. Each of the newly trained airmen received certificates of completion from SSGT Miles.

MAJ Khalid requested a complete set of the final, “as built”, drawings of the equipment prior to the team’s departure. As a result, Ryan McHale was tasked to pack a bag and depart Lakehurst that night and fly to Kuwait. Ryan created a complete six drawing package in just three days on his laptop computer, satisfying all the needs of MAJ Khalid.

COL Ali Jamal and MAJ Khalid were so impressed with the level of service, professionalism and effort by the Lakehurst team that they had the Base Commander, Brigadier General Ali Hussain Malallah present a Letter of Appreciation to the team members.

Not only was the Support Equipment repaired, made serviceable and upgraded, but a positive impression of NAVAIR and Lakehurst was indelibly left with both the leadership and working members of the Kuwaiti Air Force. The team, led by Dominick Branco, did double duty as professional engineers, and “good will ambassadors” representing the United States Navy.

PHOTO (L to R):
Randall Broush - Cryogenics Installation Engineering Technician
SSGT Christopher Miles - Cryogenics Fleet Liaison
Major Filaka Khalid - OIC, Combat Weapons Systems, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base
Colonel Yousef Ali Jamal - Air Operations Officer, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base
(Unknown Kuwaiti Airman standing in back of N2 Van)
Alan Carter - FMS Weapons System Manager
Edward Leyenaar - Pipefitter
John Lieter - Welder
Joseph Travis - Electrician
Dominick Branco - Installation Engineering Team Leader