NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y., (Aug. 14, 2018) — Supplied with marshmallows, popsicle sticks and string, Airmen assigned to the 107th Civil Engineer Squadron here look to ingenuity to keep their August drill from beginning with broken eggs, Aug. 12, 2018.
As part of a monthly team building exercise, the Airmen were challenged to design and build cradles that would allow a raw egg to survive drops of more than 15 feet. With only the most basic of household supplies available, the engineers set about doing what they do best.
“This morning was our second CE squadron challenge,” said Senior Master Sgt. Catrina Gray, emergency management superintendent assigned to the 107th CES. “There were six random teams and they were given the same materials, an egg, and we used a scissor lift to drop them from predetermined heights.”
Rather than keep the Airmen together by section, they were split up to work with others they may not know too well. The result is a flurry of ideas with no two contraptions being the same.
“Everybody was talking with each other, people were shouting out all kinds of strategic thoughts” said Gray. “We’re really just trying to promote team building and thinking outside of the box.”
Another goal of these monthly challenges is to break up the usual routine of a drill weekend. On a scale of 1 to 10, Gray said immediately it is a 20.
“The energy levels, the motivation and excitement, this brings it to a whole different level,” said Gray.
With repeated drops until there was only one egg left, it proved to be more difficult that some expected. Ultimately doubling the height of the drop and resorting to sabotage of the carriages led to a winner.
“Some of them looked a little shoddily put together, but we’re CE so we put together things for a living,” said Staff Sgt. Charles Grosofsky, a water and fuels specialist assigned to the 107th CES. “But when every egg survived the first round all my doubts were set aside.”
Styrofoam cups, plastic bags and tape can go a long way when utilized in clever ways. The challenge for next month remains a secret, but until then this weekend is summed up easily by Gray.
“Success!”