Photo By Master Sgt. Teri Eicher | U.S. Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 134th Civil Engineer Squadron pose for a...... read more read more
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Airmen from the 134th Civil Engineer Squadron traveled to Morón Air Base in the region of Andalusia, Spain, for a deployment for training (DFT) the latter half of June, 2025, to accomplish a variety of construction projects to improve the facilities for the host nation and deployed Airmen alike.
The 18-day trip was part of a larger rotation of Air National Guard units, each with a designated series of tasks to complete at the base, which is operated by the Spanish air force. The United States Air Force has a delegation here who are not manned for larger projects, creating an opportunity for ANG Airmen to get hands-on training they don’t typically experience during a drill weekend.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our team to put their skills to use,” said the trip Senior Enlisted Leader Chief Master Sgt. Chris Gragg. “We have a lot of young Airmen who have gotten quality training. Working in a variety of heavy equipment and seeing a large project from start to finish is something we rarely have time for at home station.”
The location of Morón Air Base provided additional challenges that strengthened the Airmen’s skills and tested their adaptability, such as extreme temperatures, limited access to supplies and equipment, and language barriers with the local population. With a large portion of Airmen on the trip still in training, this was a valuable learning experience to the development of their skills. As they overcame each challenge, the Airmen grew as individuals and as a team.
A DFT in an overseas location provides many unique opportunities for training as well as personal growth. During their down time, Airmen were able to visit ‘bucket list’ places of historical and cultural significance that they may not ever have had the opportunity to see. The city of Ronda, with architecture dating back to the Roman Empire in 600 AD, or Málaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, provided rich opportunities for the Airmen to learn and develop their skills navigating a new region with an unfamiliar language.
Of course, the primary focus of such a trip is the mission itself, and the variety of projects in Morón Air Base challenged the skills of the 134th civil engineers daily.
“We’ve gotten some real world training on permanent structures that our Airmen wouldn’t be able to accomplish on a drill weekend,” said Troop Commander Capt. Beau Barrett. “Projects like fence construction, laying down concrete, and grading surfaces will improve the quality of life for the people stationed here, and also helped the Airmen refine their skills for missions they may be tasked with in the future.”
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the trip provided the opportunity for the Airmen to work closely together and develop their bonds as a team. In addition, having the time after hours to work out, share a meal, or experience a new culture together creates a memory they’ll share for the rest of their careers.
“A trip like this helps build relationships that one weekend a month just can’t do,” said Barrett. “By getting to spend an extended period of time with each other they build that comfort working together so that in the future they can hit the ground running and function more efficiently as a team. In addition, it allows us to give the Airmen a life experience that they will always look back on and remember not only the excellent work they did, but also the fun and camaraderie they shared.”
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2025 12:21 |
| Story ID: | 501853 |
| Location: | MORóN AIR BASE, ES |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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