‘Dirt Boyz’ raise morale with rocks

Photo By Master Sgt. David Dobrydney | Members of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron spread concrete during a project on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, March 27, 2013. The "Dirt Boyz" have poured 83.5 cubic meters of concrete for 11 separate sites in the past three months. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

03.27.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Whether it’s pouring concrete or moving dirt around, the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Heavy Equipment Section has it covered.

Affectionately known as the ‘Dirt Boyz,’ the 14-man section has, among other projects, poured 83.5 cubic meters of concrete and hauled 12,973 cubic meters of gravel to Bagram Air Field in the last three months.

“We’ve been getting work orders nonstop,” said Senior Master Sgt. Patrick O’Brien, 455th ECES heavy equipment superintendent.

The ‘Dirt Boyz’ are responsible for supporting the flightline here through various projects, including creating berms for ammunition depots and digging trenches for power lines or drainage.

“We’ve done a lot of … projects where we’ve leveled and excavated,” said Master Sgt. Jeff Young, 455th ECES heavy equipment supervisor, “we’ve eliminated flooding problems in areas.”

The section also performs more mundane, but much appreciated, tasks such as putting down gravel to strengthen dirt roads. Master Sgt. Doug Gavilanez, 455th ECES heavy equipment operator, said the 3,500 cubic meters of gravel the section has put down improves safety.

“If you walk on some of this mud, especially if you’ve got your [individual body armor] on, you could twist your ankle,” he said. “It’s like cement.”

Gavilanez said crushed rock was part of one of the more rewarding jobs he’s been part of at Bagram, fixing the road at one of the more heavily used entry control points.

“Those security forces guys would be standing there, and the road is all messed up, and they’re sitting in six inches of water,” he recalled. “We went out there and repaired that whole road and made it safer, we made it more conducive to [searches]… fixing that road was definitely a big accomplishment.”

Whenever the civil engineers bring out their cement mixers, graders or bulldozers, they always attract spectators and volunteers.

“People are fascinated, especially when you have skilled operators that make it look so easy,” said Young. “Everyone wants to play with the Tonka trucks; we had them when we were kids, now we have the big version .”

• Date Taken: 03.27.2013
• Date Posted: 04.03.2013 07:39
• Story ID: 104523
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF