AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR -- Which mobile civil engineering unit is manned, trained, and equipped to perform repairs and upgrade airfields and facilities quickly in emergency conditions with heavy equipment and the skills to accomplish major engineering repairs?
This mobile engineering unit is called the 557th Expeditionary Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer, also known as RED HORSE.
There are three squadrons that make up the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE team at AUAB: 210th RHS at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, 219th RHS at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana and 254th RHS at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam.
The squadron is currently providing ramp modifications for close air support at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
“We are widening the taxiway to support the aircraft mission here,” said Tech. Sgt. Corey Callison, 557th ERHS project manager, deployed with the 219th RHS at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.
“The widening of the ramp will also allow a wider range of aircraft onto the taxiway,” said Senior Master Sgt. Luis Camacho, 557th ERHS project superintendent.
The 557th ERHS started the project by excavating the current taxiway to prepare it for widening. Staff Sgt. Jennifer Cowhick, 557th ERHS heavy equipment operator, manned the hydraulic hammer during the excavation process.
“I’m a small person and there is a lot of power behind this equipment, but I can’t see myself doing anything else,” said Cowhick.
Cowhick added why she likes being part of RED HORSE.
“I like that we are relied on, self-sufficient and able to go anywhere and do our job,” she said. “I enjoy seeing the plans and how it displays our mission. Our mission affects everybody.”
Senior Airman Roman Fulgenzi, 557th ERHS a heavy equipment operator and guardsman deployed with 210th RHS, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, talks about being part of the RED HORSE team at AUAB.
“I like the instant gratification; when I see how we change things,” said Fulgenzi.
Getting intertwined with other civil engineer squadrons and other components gives us a variety of experiences Fulgenzi added.
The unit began the ramp project in January and is scheduled to be completed by March.