"Dirt Boyz" bring grit to base construction

Published Jan. 9, 2012
By Senior Airman Michael Charles
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- When deployed, members of a civil engineer squadron are often responsible for an array of duties to help build and maintain the infrastructure of a base. Everything from buildings to sidewalks are built and laid out from the ground up by these construction experts.

However, one small group stands out as a driving force behind construction -- a group of specialists known as the "Dirt Boyz."

As part of the 379th Civil Engineer Squadron here, the Dirt Boyz are a flight of 22 pavement and equipment specialists. These Airmen specialize in the operation of equipment such as dump trucks, front-end loaders, road graders and bulldozers in order to build upon the foundation of an installation.

"The nickname is fitting," said Senior Airman Justin Morrison, a 379th CES Dirt Boyz specialist deployed from Dover Air Force Base, Del. "We do the dirty work. If there is anything that needs to be done, construction or otherwise, we handle it."

The Dirt Boyz are actively engaged in numerous projects to improve the quality of the life around the installation. One of the major projects includes the construction of a new five-mile track, which looks to improve safety for Airmen running on the installation. The track will encircle the Coalition Compound and the Blatchford-Preston Complex and is slated for completion in the spring.

"Currently, those looking to run distances are doing so on the roads around the complex," said Staff Sgt. Adam Haines, 379th CES Dirt Boyz specialist deployed from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. "This is unsafe, especially at night or the many times we have low visibility due to fog.

"Hopefully this new addition to the installation will be looked at as a major step toward providing that safer alternative for working out," added Haines, a native of Anchorage, Alaska.

Training to become part of the Dirt Boyz is a lengthy process conducted in a joint-service environment. Each member of the Dirt Boyz must complete a multi-service technical training school at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. During the 10-week course, these future masters of construction learn to use basic machinery standard throughout the military.

"We learned everything we needed to learn so that we are able to be self sufficient in maintaining an installation; deployed or stateside," Morrison said. "We are afforded all the information to get down and dirty to add the capabilities each base needs to continue to meet the Air Force's objectives."

While other Air Force specialties may ease into a project, the Dirt Boyz tackle a project head-on. For many of them the sense of gratification from being able to improve the base comes as a bonus.

"I love my job," said Airman 1st Class Channing Henrey, an Aurora, Mo., native deployed here from Kadena Air Base, Japan. "I'm sure we are out in the elements a lot more than others, however, every day I can go home with the satisfaction of knowing I made a difference."