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RED HORSE paves way for logistics in Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kimberley Harrison
  • U.S. AFCENT Combat Camera
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan --  Airmen assigned to the 809th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron are in the process of completing the first paved runway built by the "HORSE" since the Vietnam era.

Air National Guard and Air Force active-duty Airmen deployed from the 200th RHS, Camp Perry, Ohio and the 820th RHS, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., make up an 88-member team who have worked 24/7 since they put boots on the ground three months ago.

"This is total force integration at its best," said Tech. Sgt. Mark Schneider, deployed from the 200th RHS. "It's due to superior leadership ... I couldn't have been deployed with a better group of people."

Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, simply known as RED HORSE, are working diligently day and night in this austere environment, located in the Garmsir District of Helmand Province, where 120-plus degree weather is the summer norm, blinding sand storms hit without warning and equipment issues cease to surprise.

The reason for the dedication and determination of the Airmen is the construction of an all-weather concrete runway and two aircraft parking ramps. The project will accommodate large fixed-wing aircraft, such as the C-17 Globemaster III, that can provide rapid delivery of troops and cargo, enabling sustainment of combat forces close to potential battle areas.

"We're opening up the logistical channels for southern Helmand Province," said Capt. Oliver Barfield, deployed from the 820th RHS. "The logistics in Afghanistan are tougher than it is in Iraq because of the terrain and lack of infrastructure."

The capability this runway will bring to the fight will lead to fewer rotary wing and potentially dangerous convoy missions currently being conducted between forward operating bases surrounding Camp Dwyer.

"We like what we're doing here because we know it'll get the Marines and the Army off the road ... the guys doing convoys who are getting hit by IEDs," said Chief Master Sgt. Jay Campbell, deployed from the 200th RHS.

"We're tying up resources such as the C-130s and convoys to bring in assets from Camps Bastion and Leatherneck," said Luther, Mont. native and site commander, Captain Barfield. "Our goal is to get the convoys off the road and get the rotary wing back to serving the warfighter instead of serving logistics for the warfighter ... the C-130s are already strained because of their high demand and ability to land anywhere."

With a budget of approximately $16.5 million, the scope of the project makes it the largest troop labor construction project in Iraq or Afghanistan, but the HORSEmen -- easily identified by their bright red hats -- are confident they'll meet the anticipated scheduled runway completion date of August 2010, if not sooner.

"We'll get this done before we leave," declared Elmore, Ohio, native and earthwork supervisor, Sergeant Schneider, "We don't come into a place and leave without something finished ... that's not the way we roll."

Other RED HORSE members hope the project meets the completion date as well.

"It would be great if the first C-17 to land here -- on the runway we built -- would be the one we use to leave here," said Columbus, Ohio native and site superintendent, Chief Campbell.

There is more than meets the eye when taking on a mission of this magnitude that goes well beyond mixing and pouring concrete and this group of red-hat "dirt-boyz" has their prior RED HORSE team to thank.

"The rotation before us really set us up for success," said Captain Barfield. "They made this happen because they spent their six months doing all the earthwork [for the runway]."

According to Captain Barfield, the earthwork portion of this project was critical because the construction must be handled with extreme precision in order to meet strict Unified Facilities Code specifications for airfields,

If specs aren't met every step of the way, not only would it be a loss of time, manpower and resources, but the runway would not be able to handle the wear and tear of continual C-17 traffic carrying full payloads. Valuable lives and assets could also be at risk.

"Southern Afghanistan is considered the most dangerous part of Afghanistan, with Helmand Province appearing to be the hot spot," said Sergeant Schneider, "so the buildup of this base is going to give us the infrastructure and ability to supply the demands it's going to take in order to support the ongoing operations..."

The runway is made up of concrete slabs that are built by staggering the construction of paving lanes. This allows steel dowel rods to be inserted at regular intervals at the end of each concrete slab, as well as along the side of each lane to form joints. These joints are connected together by 5/8-inch Styrofoam backer rod and topped with silicone sealant which creates an air- and water-tight seal.

The dowel and backer rods are very important to the overall longevity of the runway.
"The backer rods help seal joints by allowing slack...when the concrete flexes due to the heat and the weight of the aircraft, said Mansfield, Ohio native, Senior Airman Derrick Ream, deployed from Det. 1, 200th RHS.

"By cutting the concrete...it's easier to replace that pad if we need too due to cracks than it would be to fix a larger section," said Elyria, Ohio native, Senior Airman Jacob Batesole, heavy equipment operator deployed from the 200th RHS.

"When the runway is complete, we'll have used more than 40,000 dowel rods and performed more than 22 miles of saw cutting and installation of backer rods and sealant," said Sgt. Schneider.

There are additional projects to complete before the runway is ready to be used such as paint striping, airfield marking and the emplacement of gravel used to serve as shoulders on each side of the runway, but the work the Air Force RED HORSE team is doing here demonstrates that even a small team can create a huge impact.

"The work ethic and determination that is displayed on a daily basis is outstanding," said Sergeant Schneider. "Everyone comes out here and gives 110 percent every day ... I don't know if I could do a project like this with anybody else."