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Airmen from the 118th Wing Civil Engineer Squadron (CES), Mission Support Group (MSG), based in Nashville, Tennessee, deployed to Novo Selo Training Area (NSTA), Bulgaria Aug. 2016 in support of Operation Resolute Castle.
The members were part of a rotational crew assigned to continue projects already in progress by the 194th Engineer Brigade, a Tennessee Army National Guard unit out of Jackson, Tennessee.
Among the projects that the 118th MSG tackled while at NSTA were the installation of lighting at the Ammo Holding Area, better known as the AHA, and the emplacement of lightning protection at various structures around the installation.
Maj. Nathan Smith, 118th CES Deputy Commander provided a brief description of the tasks at hand for the 118th MSG.
“We are here supporting the 194th Engineer Brigade and we are what is known as a vertical engineer company. We have carpenters, plumbers, and electricians, as opposed to horizontal engineers. Those are the guys that have the big dirt moving equipment. Our biggest project is working on the Ammunition Holding Area called the AHA. We are going to do perimeter lights about 100 feet apart and there’s 32 of those. The other part of the project is to do lightning protection and lighting within the AHA itself. With lightning protection you try to create a protective zone around buildings so you put up air terminals. They can either be masts or some other type of systems that are integrated within the building itself and run a conductor to ground” said, Smith, “What that means is any lightning that hits the building will travel along that path and anything below that should be safe from getting electrocuted.”
The majority of the National Guard members on the rotation were “traditionals,” meaning they only work one drill weekend per month and 15 annual training days per year. The training they receive while on these deployments is extremely beneficial to the Airmen since most do not have the opportunity for it elsewhere. They are learning and practicing new skill sets at NSTA while simultaneously completing construction projects that will be beneficial to both Bulgaria and the U.S. for years to come.
“Most of our guys are more interior electricians than they are either heavy voltage or high voltage or lightning protection. Those are a little bit outside the norm. They get the training in tech school but as far as training on a regular basis or training or installing this type of system, this is the first time for most of these guys,” stated Smith.
The AHA consists of 12 storage cells that require security fencing, security lighting, lightning protection and improvements to the access road. The 118th MSG were only responsible for providing the lighting and lightning protection portion during their stay.
Heavy equipment and materials needed for the construction projects at sites like NSTA is sometimes a challenge to obtain if the Army doesn’t already have it readily available. Most of the equipment and supplies have been brought in by the 194th EN BDE for completion of the projects. Local hardware stores are not guaranteed to have all of the items needed.
“The Army is providing the bigger equipment such as the man lift, skid steer, backhoes, any of that bigger equipment is provided by the 194th.”
Airman Matthew Justice, while overseeing the excavator/drilling operation and prepping for the lighting installation, explained the role of the 118th MSG at the AHA and their portion of the project during their rotation at NSTA.
“We are putting lighting around the entire perimeter…it’s going to be a work in progress for a while. We auger for a while and then take a shovel and take out the big rocks. Our plan is to get the holes dug, get the poles in, get the lighting system up, and then ground the lighting system,” stated Justice.
Service members from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force have all worked closely together during rotations at Resolute Castle 16. With every rotation working toward meeting their goals, things are on schedule. The projects that the 118th MSG and the Tennessee Air National Guard contribute to this collaboration are invaluable to strengthening the bonds with their state partnership nation of Bulgaria.
| Date Taken: | 08.09.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2016 13:04 |
| Story ID: | 207122 |
| Location: | KNOXVILLE , TN, US |
| Web Views: | 107 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, 118th CES Supports Operation Resolute Castle 16, by SMSgt Kendra Owenby, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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