Photo By Staff Sgt. Tylin Rust | U.S. Air National Guard Airmen from the Civil Engineer Squadron, 148th Fighter Wing,...... read more read more
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The 148th Fighter Wing’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team is no stranger to innovation, from hands-on tank training to real-world mission activation. Readiness is their mission, and every year they host the Advanced EOD Conventional Course (AEODCC), drawing participants from across the Department of Defense and around the world.
Behind every mission there is a skilled team turning plans into reality. For AEODCC, that team is the 148th Fighter Wing’s Civil Engineer Squadron. The team, comprised of structural maintenance, pavements and construction equipment, and water and fuel systems specialists, these Airmen build and maintain the facilities and runways critical-to-mission success.
Staff Sgt. Isaac Pfeffer, a pavements and construction equipment specialist, also commonly known as “Dirt Boys”, said the hands-on training is essential for developing Airmen’s journeyman and craftsman skill levels.
“Vital would be an understatement,” Pfeffer said. “What we are doing here lays the groundwork—literally the textbook definition of hands-on training.”
Planning a build of this scale begins months in advance. Members from the Civil Engineer Squadron and EOD coordinate their vision, then survey the Leach Impact Area at Camp Ripley, assessing rural terrain and inspecting preconstructed structures. Materials and equipment are transported safely across overgrown paths, steep hills, and even areas with unexploded ordnances before construction begins.
The work itself requires precision, creativity, and improvisation. Limited tools and challenging terrain mean civil engineers must often think on their feet. In one project, Airmen stabilized rebar for a concrete base using only grass, string, and concrete sacks. In another they were without a concrete mixer so a combination of manual mixing, buckets, and a front-end loader were used to complete the foundation.
Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Wing, a structural maintenance specialist, emphasized the value of these exercises: the course allows Airmen to practice hands-on tasks they rarely encounter at home station while building unit cohesion.
“We get to do it together,” Wing said. “When you go down range, you may not be doing only your designated job, so this prepares us for that reality.”
The projects themselves range widely, from laying foundations and basements to plumbing, roofing, and even constructing aerial water tanks. Master Sgt. Michael Priola, structures supervisor, said the possibilities are nearly limitless with the right support.
For the civil engineers, preparing the EOD for AEODCC isn’t just training: it’s a point of pride. “I’m more than proud of the work being done here,” said Priola. “It’s incredible to step back and see how everyone moves and operates together as a machine.”
From untamed terrain to critical infrastructure, the 148th Civil Engineer Squadron makes every location fully operational. Supporting EOD ahead of AEDOCC gives them the chance to hone their larger mission of maintaining and building base infrastructure so Airmen can focus on the fight, and the Air National Guard can project Air Force power anytime, anywhere.
“The AEODCC is a truly organic effort put on by the 148th Civil Engineer Squadron. I couldn't be more proud of the dedication our members pour into building training grounds for EOD teams at Camp Ripley, tackling tough terrain and resource constraints,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Solberg, the 148th Fighter Wing base civil engineer. “Their pride in their work is evident in their seamless teamwork and the knowledge that their hard labor lays the literal foundation for EOD teams to bravely train for the dangerous, yet vital, task of protecting others from explosive threats, both at home and abroad.”
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2025 15:32 |
| Story ID: | 549441 |
| Location: | LITTLE FALLS, MINNESOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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