Civil Engineers head for Ft. McCoy on way to Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kerry Bartlett
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis, St. Paul Air Reserve Station --  

There is an aspect of war fighting that is often overlooked. The men and equipment fighting the fight need a place to call home. A place to regroup, repair and just relax. Building and maintaining that home is one function of the civil engineering squadron. The 934 CE is preparing to do just that, 6700 miles away.

Thirty five members of the 934th Civil Engineer Squadron left Saturday for Ft. McCoy, Wis. where they will hone their combat skills before continuing on to Afghanisatan.

For the thousands of war fighters, the civil engineer presence is a welcome one.
"We will be Improving the quality of life boosts morale", said Chief Master Sgt. Dale Klossner, 934 CE manager. "We have heard they love seeing us come in," he added.
For CE, improving the quality of life means working at elevations up to 7800 feet above sea level and temperatures that could span from below zero to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. But these are just inconveniences.

The real challenge in providing a comfortable, functional, well-built facility includes working with inconsistent materials, dealing with cultural differences and limited resources. On top of that, CE will work with other military forces, military contractors and locals to get the job done.

"A lot of the equipment is there," said Senior Master Sgt. Wayne Kraft, the CE First Sergeant.

"We will be using all of our skills and training", Chief Klossner said. "CE has strict mobility requirements to keep us ready," said the chief.

Cross training will also be accomplished among the plumbers, electricians and structures personnel, he added.
"Everyone feels good about what they are doing," the Chief said.

There is a lot of enthusiasm about accomplishing the mission. This deployment will be the first for about half of those going.