Solving Dormitory Humidity Problems

Photo By Krisa Cassidy | TSgt Jerry Prowant, an Airmen Dorm Leader (ADL) and member of the 694 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Osan AB, Republic of Korea, discovered and remediated a systemic ventilation issue that resulted in high humidity in DoD facilities across South Korea. His dedication to solving the problem improved the quality of life of his fellow Airmen and eliminated a potential fire hazard. In this photo, the main dryer duct is free from lint after TSgt Jerry Prowant’s cleaning (USAF photo by TSgt Jerry Prowant).  

SOUTH KOREA

05.10.2021

Courtesy Story

Headquarters Air Force, Office of the Director of Civil Engineers

CE Weekly Submission by Capt John Kulikowski and MSgt Nicholas A. Rice //

The Air Force designates a select number of Non-Commissioned Officers as Airmen Dorm Leaders (ADLs). Tasked with both facility management and Airman mentorship, ADLs represent some of the most competent leaders the Air Force has to offer.

One of these ADLs is TSgt Jerry Prowant from the 694 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Osan AB, Republic of Korea. His initiative and genuine desire to improve the lives of other Airmen led him to discover and remediate a systemic ventilation issue affecting DoD facilities across South Korea.

After receiving a phone call from one of his fellow ADLs requesting assistance with a quality of life challenge plaguing a dorm, TSgt Prowant jumped into action. Upon arriving to the dorm’s third floor, he quickly grasped the magnitude of the problem. The hallway and common area walls were saturated with moisture to the extent that droplets of water were running down the walls and onto the ground. In an effort to identify the root cause of the humidity, TSgt Prowant began investigating the laundry room. He discovered that the dryer exhaust system was not properly funneling hot, humid air out of the building due to an excess of lint in the dryer ventilation system. Recognizing the potential fire hazard this caused, he took immediate action and shut power off to the laundry room.

TSgt Prowant then alerted the Service Contracts, Contracting Officer Representative to inform them of this issue. He knew that dryer vent cleaning was part of a service contract and that the contractor was not meeting its contractual obligation. He also feared that the same hazard existed in other dorms across the campus. To remediate this danger, TSgt Prowant decided to personally clean the ventilation system, immediately eliminating the safety concern and returning the dorm humidity levels to normal operating parameters.

His quick actions and resourcefulness helped to identify and correct a major fire hazard and quality of life issue for all dorm residents at the largest permanent party dorm campus in the Air Force. Congratulations to TSgt Prowant for his leadership as an ADL!

• Date Taken: 05.10.2021
• Date Posted: 05.10.2021 11:45
• Story ID: 396010
• Location: KR