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May 25, 2021 (CAMP RIPLEY, Minnesota) — The 210th Engineering Installation Squadron (EIS) out of St. Paul, Minnesota, conducted their 1st Annual Squadron FLYAWAY, May 14-16, 2021 on Camp Ripley.
The 210th is extremely unique in that it is one of only 15 Engineering Installation Squadrons in all the Air Force (14 Air National Guard, 1 Active Duty). With over 40 years of operation, the 210th has deployed personnel to locations around the world.
“Typically, any base, whether it be a Guard base, Active-Duty base, Army or Air Force, it doesn't really matter. They could say we need to get some new antennas installed on our air traffic control tower,” said MSgt Drew Gordon.
From there, installation squadrons around the country bid on the opportunity to perform the job.
The 210th EIS’s mission is to train and deploy qualified personnel to engineer and install Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence systems in support of worldwide military operations.
As part of their training, Airmen of the 210th spent the weekend learning how to operate heavy equipment such as skid steers, a trencher with a stinger attachment and bobcats. Before operating the vehicles, service members must first complete classroom training.
“We have a certified trainer that works with them,” said Gordon. “It is important to do the vehicle training to keep the team members safe and up to date in the field. Without the training, it puts the team members at risk.”
The squadron normally performs three to five real-world jobs each year. The unit has around 110 service members with 15 to 20 certified Team Chiefs. Each job requires a Team Chief to lead the project, whether it be a job involving cable, airfield systems or cyber transport systems.
“The Team Chief is the person that’s in charge of that job,” said Gordon. “Normally, they are not the highest-ranking member on the team, but they are the ones that have the say in what goes on.”
The unit plans to update around 11 ranges on Camp Ripley next year with fiber optic cable. This addition will allow for quicker communication and internet by setting the groundwork for electricians and communications service members. This improvement will also enable efficient emergency responses throughout the ranges.
In addition to vehicle training, the unit performed confined space training. Confined space training allows them to pull cable through existing utility access hole duct systems in the ground. While it may sound like an easy task, confined spaces are extremely dangerous.
“In 2019, we went over to the Middle East and we did a lot of manhole entry; pulling cables through the manhole systems,” said Gordon. “It’s very important to our line of work; it’s one of the most dangerous things we do.”
One of the most important things to have when entering a utility access hole is a gas detector which is lowered into the hole before anyone can enter. If the levels are not right, it is not safe to enter. When this happens, the unit must pump clean air into the hole.
Just like any job, understanding how to use the necessary equipment is critical to the safety of the workers. The 210th EIS mission for the training exercise was to increase inter-flight training, leadership, and team-building skills, develop mobility/development preparatory skills, and unit cohesion to ensure safety at job sites.
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2021 10:41 |
| Story ID: | 398477 |
| Location: | LITTLE FALLS, MN, US |
| Web Views: | 38 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 1st Annual Squadron FLYAWAY at Camp Ripley, by SSG Mahsima Alkamooneh, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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