Civil Engineers train for deployment part IV

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hickey
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis-St. Paul ARS --  Editor's note: This is the fourth of four articles detailing the 934th Airlift Wing/Civil Engineering Squadron's mobilization training at Fort McCoy, Wis. in preparation for their deployment to Southwest Asia.

Air Force civil engineers completed mobilization training at Fort McCoy in February 2011 in preparation for their deployment to Southwest Asia. Nearing the end of their training, the engineers had an opportunity to reflect on the opportunities and challenges they met during training.

Wisconsin winter weather was problematic for a number of the engineers, particularly for Airmen from the southern or western United States.
"I'm not used to anything below 50 degrees," said Senior Master Sgt. William G. Kelly III, 452nd CES, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.

"I probably have to say the same thing living in Mississippi," said Tech. Sgt. Dennis R. King, 403rd CES, Keesler AFB. "If we see 30 degrees, we stay in the house. Dealing with the cold and wind here, that's about the biggest challenge for me."

"It was freezing," said Staff Sgt. Danielle Hermans, an electrician with the 934th AW/CES. "It was negative 20. I'm used to living in Wisconsin, but when you have people from Louisiana and stuff, it's a different world for them."
Although unpleasant at times, cold weather training in Wisconsin has distinct advantages. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, there is a large range of temperature conditions found in Afghanistan. There is both a danger of heat exhaustion
and heatstroke in the lower regions in summer, and of exposure, wind chill, and frostbite in the mountains in winter.

Some of these same weather conditions can be found in Wisconsin.
Despite the cold weather, the engineers enjoyed certain aspects of training, including Humvee convoy training and marksmanship.

"Being a gunner," said Sergeant Hermans. "That was awesome. That's not something I get to do as an electrician."

Senior Airman Joseph T. Rodriguez, a native of Houston, Texas, and an engineering apprentice with the 14th Reconnaissance Wing, liked the pop-up ranges at Fort McCoy.
"Back home, we don't have anything like that," he said. "To do something like this over here is awesome."

As a reservist, he also enjoyed getting back into the military mindset and using the methods the military has to offer, he said.

Training at Fort McCoy meant carrying extra heavy equipment, which was a challenge for many engineers.  "I'm not really used to carrying a 70-lb load on me," said Sergeant Kelly.  Their new outside-the-wire mission requires more equipment than most Airmen are used to carrying around while performing their typical duties.

"The weight of the equipment we have to carry, you know, is a lot different from what we normally do on our drill weekends," said Sergeant King. "It's taken a bit of a toll on us, but we're doing alright."

The opportunity to learn new skills and work with other branches of service outweighed the challenges faced during training.
"I don't know how to pour concrete so I'll get to learn some new stuff, new skills," said Sergeant Hermans, an electrician with the 934th AW/CES. "I also like working with all branches of the military so it's a good experience."
The engineers look forward to doing their part and giving soldiers a short break.
"I feel that we are going to give some of those Army guys a little break because we can do a lot of the same stuff," said Sergeant King. "A lot of us can do four or five AFSCs. I think we bring a lot more, I guess, use-ability in each person."

Airmen think the Army will be surprised at the skill set they bring.
Air Force civil engineers are taught to think outside-the-box, which has advantages, said Sergeant King. "I think the Army will be pleasantly surprised," he said.

"I would say that the talent that has come from our squadron and March and Keesler has been phenomenal," said Chief Master Sgt. Dale Klossner, 934th AW/CES.
"These guys are top technical people, and they have the right drive and motivation."
The current Prime BEEF mission has been in the planning stages for over a year,
said Klossner, with the mission to coordinate the best Airmen with the right tasks.
"We have been working with Keesler and March and their leadership and trying to make sure we've got the right people in the right spots," said Klossner. "We're going to war so we have to have the right talent there. A lot of these guys are the best they've got at those squadrons."

The consensus among Air Force engineers during the week is that Army and Air Force civil engineers have more in common and fewer differences than many expected.
"It doesn't matter what service you're in," said Senior Master Sgt. Wayne T. Kraft, first sergeant for the 934th AW/CES. "We are always building. We are always trying to make it better for the soldiers and troops that are over there."