LRS Airmen keep 131st mission-ready at all times

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sean Navarro
  • 131st Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Three senior airmen from the 131st Logistics Readiness Squadron have a critical role in ensuring the Airmen of the 131st Bomb Wing are supplied with the uniforms and equipment they need to carry out the Wing's mission.

Senior Airmen Adam Catts and Jeremiah Pressley, who work in material management, and Senior Airman Clarissa Worley, who works in transportation management office of deployment and distributions, spent their May drill testing equipment, ordering uniforms, issuing deployment gear, and ensuring the 131st's Airmen are always mission-ready, said Senior Master Sgt. William Austin.

"My Airmen make sure that everyone that deploys is kept supplied and safe," Austin said. "That includes keeping track of all of the new equipment and uniform requirements."

Although based at Whiteman, the 131st Logistics Readiness Squadron, is responsible for supporting Missouri Airmen across the state, said 1st Lt. Matthew Payne, the squadron operations officer.

"One of the unique qualities of the LRS is that we have four distinct missions in five geographic locations," Payne said. "Our missions include everything from fueling airplanes to issuing parts to working deployment taskings."

The squadron's distinct missions include fuels, material management, deployments and distribution, and vehicle management, Payne said.

Helping people is what keeps the Airmen motivated, Catts said.

"The best part of our job is the customer interaction," Catts said. "I think I've gotten to know everyone in the wing."

Catts, a Warrensburg native, has spent the past five years as part of the Whiteman Air Force Base team. Currently assigned to the Logistics Readiness Squadron, he said his team supports the total force integration mission at Whiteman, often offering support to other squadrons.

Working alongside Catts, Pressly and Worley, are equally enthusiastic in their jobs. Both said they intend to be lifers in the Missouri Air National Guard. A self-described military brat, Pressly enjoys staying active during his monthly drills.

He recently helped clear out obsolete gear from the wing's warehouse, which had been left over from the 131st's transition from Lambert Air Field.

"The best part of this job is working with my hands," said Pressly, who was performing quality control tests on gas masks.

Worley drives more than 330 miles to Whiteman each month so she can be a part of the 131st. She said she gets a lot of satisfaction out of supporting the wing's mission and learning all of the roles within her section.

Her senior noncommissioned officers try to keep everyone on their team in a two-year rotation to ensure mission capability if a member needs to be away from the shop.

"We have a great team here that works well together," Austin said. "They provide top notch customer service, and I would put them against anyone in the Air Force."

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For more information about this release, please contact the Missouri National Guard public affairs office at ngmo.pao@us.army.mil or 573 638-9846.