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Engineers: Can Do, Will Do, Have Done
It’s quite a slogan, one which promises much in a difficult and often thankless job. Yet Air Force Civil Engineers have made good on that promise since our conception, always finding a way to accomplish the task at hand. Air Force Civil Engineers have become the service’s premier organization to complete construction tasks in expeditionary environments because it is either too difficult or not feasible for contract methods of execution. Civil Engineers are problem solvers, creative thinkers, and doers.
Afghanistan is a perfect case study of the ability of Air Force Civil Engineers to adapt and evolve to any situation. First-arriving in 2001 to do initial bed-down, the mission has steadily changed over the past 18 years. New threats, technology, and strategies have forced operations to evolve. From tent cities to permanent aircraft maintenance facilities, engineers have continued to rise to each challenge, sometimes reaching outside the conventional tool-box to accomplish the mission.
In spring of 2018, the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron (557 ERHS) forward deployed a team of 16 to Afghanistan. Initial concerns included the fact that the team lacked some conventional heavy RED HORSE construction experience due to an unusually high number of Prime BEEF personnel assigned to a traditionally RED HORSE deployment. Additionally, the manning was low considering the scope of the three projects worth $2.8 million. Challenges multiplied due to bad weather, intermixed material stockpiles, and siting issues. Despite these obstacles, the crew prevailed.
Placed in this difficult situation, Site Officer-in-Charge, Captain Christian Clark, looked for additional resources and means for accomplishing the mission. “Tough, challenging situations without clear solutions force you to think outside the box,” he said. “That’s what engineers do best.” Though usually self-sufficient in personnel, materials, and equipment, RED HORSE capitalized on the 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group’s Prime BEEF personnel, and tapped into the main base 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron (455 ECES) for equipment, tools, and other resources. In return, the 557 ERHS loaned the 455 ECES cranes and other heavy equipment not normally needed by base maintenance personnel. This symbiotic give-and-take relationship extended to skilled technicians which the base loaned to 557 ERHS during concrete pour and stub-up installation. For example, Senior Master Sergeant Damian Davies, Site Superintendent for 557 ERHS, stated “Staff Sergeant Jordan Haller, was strategic to both of our success and that of the base. Our relationship with 455 ECES allowed both teams to surge when necessary and then revert back to day-to-day operations.”
The 557 ERHS synergy model highlights the power of combining separate engineering capabilities, strengths, and assets. Staff Sergeant Derek Reimer, a structural craftsman and project manager, was chosen for his position based on craft knowledge as well as seven years of experience in RED HORSE construction. In his words, “This is definitely the best RED HORSE deployment I have had, and half the team is Prime BEEF.”
Civil Engineers are tasked into different units with different roles, missions, and even some special capabilities. Engineers have the opportunity of having easy-to-see tangible results from their labor, which creates strong unit pride. However, it is important not to lose focus on the fellow Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines who are enabled and supported by the engineering efforts. Air Force Civil Engineers make a difference in the fight. With this focus in mind, the civil engineer career field badge does not contain any unit patches. Engineers all belong to the same family, and as a family they achieve greater success when they work together, creating a “Can Do, Will Do, Have Done” culture.
(Article by Captain Christian Clark and Senior Master Sergeant Damian Davies)
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.15.2019 14:07 |
| Story ID: | 318159 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 210 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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