77F (Petroleum Supply Specialists) are a vital link in the supply chain that keeps the Army’s equipment moving. They use a variety of equipment to handle bulk fuels and packaged petroleum products, and are found at almost every Army post.
At the Unit Level (for separate companies not part of a Battalion), 77F’s are responsible for fueling and providing Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL) for their unit’s equipment. There will normally be 1-4 soldiers in the rank of SPC or below, and they will be assigned to the unit’s maintenance section. 77F’s here typically operate the M939 series 5-ton truck with two 600-gallon fuel pods (commonly called a TPU, or Tank and Pump Unit). Some units may have an M978 HEMTT Fueler, a 10-ton Oshkosh truck chassis with a 2400-gallon tank and pump assembly. The two main types of fuel handled here are JP-8 (a type of kerosene used in most Army vehicles), and MOGAS (Automotive Gasoline). These soldiers will typically deploy as part of the maintenance section, and depending on the mission will establish semi-permanent fuel points at the maintenance facility or temporary ones at remote sites, sort of a mobile gas station. In a field environment, they will typically follow the company Supply Sergeant and/or 1SG on daily LOGPAC’s (Logistics Package) to deliver fuel, food, and supplies to outlying sites.
77F’s assigned to Battalions share many of the same duties as those at separate companies, but on a larger scale. They primarily provide JP-8, MOGAS, and POL to support the unit’s mission and the maintenance operations. At these units there are typically 8-10 soldiers supervised by 3-4 77F NCOs. Most, if not all of the vehicles will be the M978 HEMTT Fueler, and the 77F’s are assigned to the Support Platoon servicing the Battalion. They will frequently set up remote fueling sites for short periods of time (ROM, or Refuel On the Move). Aviation Squadron 77F’s will also use specialized M978’s to fuel aircraft, and some Airborne units will handle air-droppable, heavy-duty rubber fuel bladders called “blivets�.
At Support Battalions, 77F’s typically operate the 5-ton TPU, the M978, or a tractor-trailer with a 5000-gallon capacity (commonly called a “5K�). The 5-ton is normally used for “retail� operations, i.e. individual vehicles, and on a small scale, but the M978 and 5K’s are capable of this also, depending on field conditions. M978’s will be used to conduct ROM’s in rough-terrain areas to supplement the Battalion’s capabilities, while the 5K fuelers are typically staged at well-developed areas, since these vehicles can’t negotiate cross-country terrain as well as the TPU and M978’s. Roughly the same number of soldiers are assigned here as a regular Battalion, but there will be more NCO positions on the Logistics staff.
Higher echelons of Support Battalions may also conduct large-scale “fuel farm� operations, using 10,000 and 25,000 gallon fuel bladders to provide “wholesale� fuel to supported units’ fuel handlers, which is in turn issued at their retail points.
Duties common to 77F’s in all areas are the management and tracking of fuel issue, forecasting needs, sampling fuel for testing by
Petroleum Laboratory Specialists (77L) and for NCOs, preparing monthly fuel usage reports.
Promotion is reasonably fast through SGT/E-5, with cutoff scores typically in the high-middle part of the scale. Motivated soldiers can earn SGT within their first enlistment. SSG/E-6 promotions are a little more difficult, but not impossible. The promotion cutoff scores are typically towards the top of the scale, but only maxed a few months of the year. SFC/E-7 and MSG/E-8 competition is pretty stiff; for example, this year only about 25% of those considered were selected.
Above Information Courtesy of SSG Gregory W. Besaw
